Over 20 injured after Zanu PF attack in Highfields

By Alex Bell

More than 20 people have been hospitalised after a ZANU PF led attack in Highfields on Wednesday, which also saw businesses being looted and shut down.

A gang of ZANU PF youths, believed to be part of the notorious Chipangano gang, were bussed into the area on Wednesday morning, before unleashing violence on market vendors and other passersby at the Machipisa shopping centre.

The gang, which eyewitnesses told SW Radio Africa was led by Chipangano leader Jim Kunaka, looted and damaged market stalls and indiscriminately beat up anyone in their way. A market stall owner told SW Radio Africa that riot police, who were out in force in the area, did nothing to stop the attacks. It was only after the vendors tried to retaliate to protect their property that police moved in and fired tear gas. But they fired at the victims of the attack.

SW Radio Africa’s Harare correspondent Simon Muchemwa said that the police presence was high because the Chipangano gang had sent out warnings earlier this week that they would target Machipisa. The ZANU PF youths apparently warned that they would come to take over the market stalls as part of the party’s ‘indigenisation’ drive. It would appear that to Chipangano, black Zimbabweans at the Machipisa shopping centre are not regarded as indigenous.

Muchemwa explained that the violence in Highfields is not an isolated attack, adding that ZANU PF attacks have been reported almost every day since last Thursday.

“Last week MDC supporters were beaten in Budiriro when they put up posters ahead of a rally for Welshman Ncube’s party. And then at the rally on Saturday, more people were taken away and seriously beaten,” Muchemwa said.

He added that in Mufakose on Sunday the same Chipangano gang attacked people and looted a bar, apparently owned by a supporter of the MDC led by Ncube.

The violence in Highfields comes a day after a mob of ZANU PF youths attacked people outside Parliament, where crowds had gathered for the opening of a new parliamentary session. At least two people, including an MDC-T official and a journalist, were injured after the mob started beating up anyone they thought were MDC supporters.

The journalist, Henry Chimbiri, spent a night in hospital. He was then arrested on Wednesday morning when he tried to make a police report at Harare Central police station. It’s understood he is being held for taking photographs without police permission.

The violence in the capital also came as ZANU PF leader Robert Mugabe denounced violence, during the opening of parliament on Tuesday. A commentator told SW Radio Africa that if Mugabe truly wanted violence to end, his orders would be carried out. But Mugabe’s public sentiments are insincere because his party continues to use violence against the people. SW Radio Africa