Contents «
Prev Next »
Annexes:
Case Studies
Section
C - Violence against MDC party officials
Period prior to
June 2000 elections
Many party officials
were attacked and a number were killed. Two of the worst incidents during
this period were these:
- In April 2000 in
the Buhera North constituency two MDC party officials, Tichaona Chiminya
and Talent Mabika were killed when their vehicle was forced to stop
and their vehicle was set on fire with petrol by ZANU (PF) attackers.
The two victims were burnt to death.
- In May 2000 a ZANU
(PF) militia group consisting of several hundred people attacked the
homestead at which the relatives of an MDC parliamentary candidate lived.
This attack was apparently mounted because the militias were unable
to locate and attack the candidate himself. Mathew Pfebve was brutally
beaten to death and several other family members were beaten up. Several
homes were also set on fire.
Period after June
2000 elections
In the period following
upon the June 2000 elections there have been numerous incidents. Some
of these incidents are these:
- At the end of June
2000 MDC Member of Parliament for Dzivarasekwa in Harare, Mr. Edwin
Mushoriwa was beaten up by soldiers as he was conducting a victory parade
with his supporters in the high-density suburb. Fifteen others were
injured.
(Source: The Standard 2 July 2000.)
- On 24 July 2000
ZANU (PF) supporters allegedly abducted Itayi Maguwu, an election agent
for the MDC candidate for Dzivarasekwa constituency. He was killed and
his mutilated body was dumped near his house a few days later. The late
Maguwu was the election agent for Edwin Mushoriwa, who beat ZANU (PF)’s
Omega Hungwe in the violence-ridden June parliamentary election. His
badly mutilated body was found about 200 metres from his house in the
early morning hours.
(Source: Standard 30 July 2000.)
- In the early hours
of 7 October 2000 armed riot police broke into the house of Justin Mutendazamera,
the MDC Member of Parliament for Mabvuku in Harare. They severely beat
up the MP and his wife. The police accused him of having incited the
food riots that had occurred recently, a charge that was denied by Mutendazamera.
(Source: Daily News 18 October 2000.)
- In November 2000
Fidelis Mhashu the MDC MP for Seke yesterday said he narrowly escaped
death when a group of sixty war veterans attacked him and other members
at Beatrice Primary School. Mhashu said Chenjerai Hunzvi ZANU (PF) MP
for Chikomba threatened to kill him.
(Source: Daily News 25 November 2000)
- On 25 November
2000 an MDC candidate for Mberengwa was assaulted on the arm and face.
- On 25 November
2000 in Mahusekwa the MDC treasurer for Furamera branch and his
wife were brutally assaulted by 10 suspected ZANU (PF) supporters in
the violence preceding the Marondera West by election.
- On 6 February 2001
MDC MP for Chitungwiza in Harare, Job Sikhala, was assaulted by two
truck loads of army personnel at 4.00 a.m. in the morning, while at
his house. His pregnant wife and domestic worker were also assaulted.
Sikhala alleged that soldiers whipped him and his family with chains
at their home during this dawn raid. The police accused Sikhala of inciting
violence during the 13-14 January parliamentary by-election in Bikita
West.
- On 7 March 2001
the MDC chairman in Shamva was severely assaulted by ZANU (PF) supporters.
Other MDC officials from Shamva have fled from their homes after repeated
attacks.
- On 20 May 2001
Edson Mukwasi, 27, MDC’s Harare provincial youth chairman, sustained
a swollen eye and several injuries to his body after he was attacked
by ZANU (PF) supporters in Kambuzuma.
- At the end of May
2001 ZANU (PF) militias attacked Willias Madzimure, the Member of Parliament
for Kambuzuma in Harare. This happened a few minutes after they assaulted
Itai Chandiwana, an MDC activist at a nearby beerhall. A few days later
about 200 war veterans and ZANU (PF) supporters attacked the home of
Madzimure in Kambuzuma, in broad daylight. They destroyed windows, ransacked
and looted household goods worth thousands of dollars. Godknows Musukutwa,
25, a security guard at the Member of Parliament’s home, sustained serious
head injuries during the attack.
(Source: Daily News 23 May 2001)
- At the end of May
2001 Joel Sithole, the MDC Plumtree ward 10 in Matabeleland candidate
for council elections, was detained and tortured for more than 24 hours
before fleeing his tormentors. Sithole, 60, was abducted by masked men
suspected to be war veterans and ZANU (PF) supporters. He has since
named some of his abductors, all from the Bango area of Bulilimamangwe
South. Sithole was abducted at around 4.00 a.m. by suspected war veterans
and ZANU (PF) supporters while waiting for transport at Brunapeg, about
60km south of Plumtree town.
(Source: Daily News 28 May 2001)
- In mid-July 2001
the Harare home of Mrs Sekai Holland, MDC Secretary for International
Affairs was laid siege to. Mrs Holland and her husband Jim were inside
the house, which was surrounded by armed policemen. Mrs Holland had
been driving in central Harare earlier this morning when she realised
that her car was being followed by a white Defender Land Rover. A chase
ensued as Mrs Holland tried to evade her pursuers, during which shots
were fired at her vehicle. She managed to reach her home, and while
entering the house further shots were fired, and her domestic employees
were assaulted. Avondale police were called and on arrival discovered
that the persons laying siege to the Holland's home were themselves
policemen, from the Criminal Investigation Department. They say they
wish to speak to Mrs Holland as they suspected that her car was involved
in "household burglaries".
(Source Daily News 17 July 2001.
TOP
|