Police to use video evidence on Chitungwiza violence

By Lance Guma

Doubts have arisen over police claims that they will use video footage and photos to identify and arrest the perpetrators of the violence that caused the MDC-T to cancel their rally at the Chibuku Stadium in Chitungwiza on Sunday.

The notorious ZANU PF Chipangano gang armed, with catapults, iron bars, machetes and stones, stormed the venue in the early hours of the morning and attacked those preparing the stadium for the rally.

ZANU PF youth leader Jim Kunaka, ZBC reporter Tafara Chikumira and several other ZANU PF activists, were implicated in coordinating the violence. Others fingered were Wilfred Gwekwete, Luke Luke, Godknows Muzenda, Nyasha Dziva, Dennis Fisher, Lloyd Bhunu, Tichaona Chapfika and Tonderai Kasukuwere, a young brother to Youth Minister Saviour Kasukuwere.

Police spokesperson, Superintendent Andrew Phiri, has told a local daily newspaper that they will use video footage to identify and arrest the perpetrators. Phiri told NewsDay: “We will be flighting the video footage as well as pictures we captured during the disturbances. We will make use of both national television and the print media for identification purposes which should lead to more arrests.”

The announcement has however triggered concerns that the police will simply use the exercise to edit the video footage and seek to blame the MDC-T for the violence. Tsvangirai’s party has reason to be concerned, because the police and the ZANU PF youths behind the disturbances have actually been working together.

In Hatcliffe for example co-Home Affairs Minister and local MP, Theresa Makone, had her rally disrupted by ZANU PF youths who were throwing rocks. When the mob was sent scurrying for cover by angry MDC-T supporters the police, who initially ignored the MDC-T calls for help for about 2 hours, only went to the scene when it became clear the ZANU PF youths had been over-powered.

In Matabeleland North the police, under the instructions of the commanding officer senior assistant Commissioner Edmore Veterai, blocked Tsvangirai’s rallies in the province. In Lupane three truckloads of police officers heavily armed with guns, teargas and batons chased away staff and locked up the gate at St Paul’s clinic to prevent the PM from touring the health centre. The police later dispersed crowds who had gathered for the rally Tsvangirai was scheduled to address.

In Victoria Falls, police cordoned off Chinotimba Stadium as early as 6am to block another Tsvangirai rally from taking place. Similar police disruptions took place in Binga when over 30 heavily armed police units ordered people away from the venue of the scheduled rally.

It was little wonder MDC-T spokesman Douglas Mwonzora said: “If the police are really genuine, they must provide all the video footage on violence that took place at Parliament, in Mbare, Chitungwiza and Harvest House. What we know for a fact is that the video footage they will provide will be edited, their motive being to portray MDC-T as a violent party and persecute us.”

There have also been queries as to how the police have suddenly acquired video equipment and the expertise to use it.

SW Radio Africa has meanwhile continued to receive horrific details of the brutality involved in some of the violence countrywide. In one week alone in October, over 19 victims of political violence, all from Harare, sought medical assistance after they had been attacked in separate incidents.

As we reported, attempts by the MDC-T to have a rally in Hatcliffe ended prematurely when ZANU PF militia attacked people at the venue. SW Radio Africa understands a truck carrying MDC-T youths was ambushed, resulting in extensive damage to the vehicle and serious injury to all ten occupants.

Attempts to report the incident to the police before taking the injured to hospital were in vain, as officers at both Hatcliffe and Borrowdale police stations refused to record the statement. In a blatant display of impunity the ZANU PF militia overran the Hatcliffe police post and chased away the injured MDC-T youths. The police officers on duty also fled the station when ZANU PF militia fired guns into the air.

ZANU PF militia also attacked MDC-T supporters waiting at the rally venue and the supporters fought back in self defence, resulting in injury to six Hatcliffe residents. A police water canon and a lorry full of anti riot police arrived to quell the violence. Victims reported that the police convoy was accompanied by two minibuses ferrying ZANU PF Chipangano militants from Mbare.

Another report said: “A 16 year old boy was assaulted by the Chipangano gang in Mbare. His relatives reported that he was returning from an evening church prayer when he encountered the gang at around 1900hrs on Friday 28 October. The Chipangano youths assaulted him for missing the regular ZANU PF night vigil in the same area. The victim sustained severe injuries and is still in hospital.”

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on Monday told journalists that the national executives of all three political parties in the inclusive government will meet on Friday, to discuss the worsening political violence in the country. ZANU PF Central Committee members and their counterparts from the national executive councils of the MDC-T and MDC-N are expected to attend.

But MDC-T National Organising Secretary Nelson Chamisa told SW Radio Africa’s Question Time programme they did not expect to achieve much from the meeting as it would only be “a shaking of hands between victims and perpetrators.” He said ZANU PF is so dishonest “even after shaking hands we have to count our fingers to make sure they are still there.” SW Radio Africa

The full interview of Nelson Chamisa on SW Radio Africa’s Question Time can be found here: http://www.swradioafrica.2bctnd.net/11_11/qt091111.mp3