| A Report on Post Election Violence August 07, 2000 |
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Contents « Part 1 Part 3 » Part 2 « Part 2 index « Prev report Next report » Police arrest 20 war vets after closure of Masvingo schoolsDaily News 07 July , 2000 Twenty war veterans were arrested in Masvingo on Wednesday after they ordered the closure of three schools and asked a number of commercial farmers to vacate their properties in Mwenezi and Chiredzi districts. Three schools in Mwenezi district were closed as war veterans ordered teachers to abandon their classes and to buy Zanu (PF) cards, Eight war veterans were arrested during the disturbances and are due to appear in court soon on charges of public violence. Scores of school children were left stranded as the former freedom fighters began to hunt down teachers suspected to have voted for the opposition MDC in last month’s election. The schools include Vinga, Tsungirira and Chirindi, all in the Mwenezi district. Police in Masvingo said: "War veterans went to the three schools and ordered teachers out of the classes. They ordered them to go and buy Zanu (PF) cards at Furidzi Business Centre. Some teachers complied while others fled but eight people were arrested in connection with the disturbances." The Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association provincial chairman, Munyaradazi Mhike, said former freedom fighters who had unleashed post-election violence on the opposition were doing so without the association’s blessing. "Elections are over and there is no need for us to carry on with the grudge. It is not proper for civil servants to be attacked. Whatever differences we had during the election campaigns should be over," he said. Mhike said the former freedom fighters occupying some commercial farms were prepared to move out once they have been allocated land. "We are not saying we should be resettled on occupied farms but anywhere else." TOP |