War veteran Dominic Mazando of the ZNLWVA said their offices were attacked by MDC youths the previous night and that 3 war veterans were injured. MDC youths destroyed telephones. The MDC said a war veteran forced his way into the party’s meeting on Tuesday at 9:00am and that the trouble began when he refused to leave and was dragged out by farmers and MDC supporters.

• Police in Kwekwe have arrested 20 members of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change as investigations into Tuesday’s political violence in the city continue, a senior officer said yesterday. The officer-in-charge at Kwekwe Central Police Station, Chief Inspector Christopher Ndonya, said the MDC members were arrested on Thursday evening and yesterday morning. He said they were due to appear in court today facing public violence charges. The violence which erupted when MDC members and war veterans clashed on Tuesday evening has left 16 people injured, one of them seriously. Thousands of dollars worth of property was destroyed. Chief Insp Ndonya said police expected to make more arrests as investigations continued. "We are continuing with our investigations until we account for all the suspects." Commenting on the violence the Midlands branch of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association blamed slow reaction by the police for the extensive destruction of property and assault of some people during the political disturbances in Kwekwe on Tuesday. In an interview, the association’s provincial chairman, Cde Jedmund Dube-Ntsiane, said it took the police more than an hour to react to the incident, which occurred less than a kilometre away from the station. He also accused the police of sympathising with the opposition Movement for Democratic Change and white commercial farmers, saying that whenever the party reported threats of violence, the police were quick to react. When suspected MDC members destroyed window panes, furniture and other property at the association’s office, the police arrested five war veterans and two Zanu (PF) supporters. "But if there was violence, it means we were fighting each other, so why were MDC members not also arrested immediately after the violence?" he asked. Chief Insp Ndonya, dismissed the allegations as unfounded. He said it took the police 15 minutes to get to the scene, adding that police were not affiliated to any political party. ‘‘We are professionals who attend to any complaints from anybody at any time," said Chief Insp Ndonya.

16 MDC supporters who had been arrested and accused of inciting violence against war veterans and Zanu (PF) supporters were released for lack of evidence. Kwekwe senior magistrate, Taurai Chigwedu "attacked the police detectives for rushing suspects to court before exhaustive investigations." Four other MDC supporters were charged and remanded in custody until 21 April.

MDC supporters at the weekend unleashed an orgy of violence on hapless Dzivaresekwa residents, burning two cars, stoning 17 others and damaging nine houses. The rampaging youths, estimated to have been around 100, also held a 17-year-old Dzivaresekwa 1 Secondary School boy hostage for nearly an hour and severely beat him up before he fled to safety. Witnesses say riot police descended on the western suburb and fought running battles with the riotous youths for nearly six hours before restoring a semblance of normality. At least 63 people were arrested and are expected to appear in court soon on allegations of public violence. Zanu (PF) parlimentary aspirant Cde Omega Hungwe’s newly renovated house was not spared either as the drunken youths swept through the suburb attacking properties belonging to known Zanu (PF) stalwarts. A Harare City Council Peugeot 504 truck parked outside the home of Mr Patrick Masarakufa and his Alfa Sud car were reduced to burntout shells by the marauding MDC supporters. Council properties, including clinics, were also hit and motorists who failed to salute the youths using the MDC sign were attacked at a barricade on the main road leading into the suburb. A house belonging to Mr Peter Karimakwenda, widely believed to be gunning for the MDC nomination for Parliament in the area, was also damaged. The house is directly opposite Cde Hungwe’s house. Emotions boiled over at Dzivaresekwa 2 Shopping Centre on Saturday when police moved in to arrest public drinkers and two other people who were wanted for some offences. The drinkers said they were not pre-pared to take orders or be arrested by "Zanu (PF) police". One of the revellers splashed opaque beer on the police vehicle, while others set upon the police team. Sensing danger, the officers fired teargas to disperse the crowd and beat a hasty retreat. Chanting MDC slogans, the crowd pursued the officers to their station and started pelting the building. Riot police in the area moved in and called for reinforcements from the police reaction group and Support Unit. The situation had been tense beginning Saturday when a group of MDC youths began "toyitoying" in the area, intimidating or assaulting those who did not respond to MDC slogans.

• Suspected MDC supporters assaulted a Zanu (PF) member in Mufakose, Harare, recently till his bowels ruptured. Cde Oswald Jackson (33), is nursing 17 stitches from the abdominal operation, and eight-stitches mending a deep laceration on the scalp. The surgery was done at Harare Central Hospital. Cde Jackson, who is in charge of transport for the Zanu (PF) youth wing in the area, was reportedly ambushed by a gang of youths wearing MDC T-shirts last week on Tuesday. The youths allegedly assaulted him, resulting in the serious injuries which kept him in hospital for six days. Groaning in pain, Cde Jackson yesterday said he had been assaulted with sjamboks, sticks and iron bars by about 30 MDC youths. "I was coming from work around 7 pm when I discovered that I was being pursued by a gang for wearing a Zanu (PF) T-shirt and being a well known supporter of the party. Most of my assailants are well-known MDC supporters, including one feared MDC hooligan who once attempted to sell me an MDC card, resulting in a perpetual grudge between us because I rejected it." "My brother has paid my hospital bill amounting to $3 142," he said. Most Mufakose residents, still gripped with fear, said they had heard about the incident and some even witnessed it, but they feared to comment. "I cannot comment on the incident for my own safety, and be-sides how do I know whether you are MDC supporters or not?" asked a resident who refused to be named. A docket has since been opened at Marimba police station and investigations are still underway. "We received reports of the incident a day later and we visited the victim at hospital, but we have not yet caught the perpetrators," said the Officer- In-Charge of Marimba police station, Inspector Lovemore Gondo. Cases of political violence have been on the increase, with 63 people getting arrested on Sunday when MDC supporters unleashed an orgy of violence on Dzivaresekwa residents, burning two cars, stoning 17 others and damaging nine houses.
• In Murehwa, two suspected MDC youths were arrested at Murehwa growth point and an undisclosed number are on the run after unleashing a reign of terror at the centre. They allegedly beat up and intimidated members of the public and stole cash from a nightclub and a butchery, police said yesterday. The arrested pair, who were wearing MDC T-shirts, allegedly terrorised the public at the growth point. They then went to a nightclub and allegedly stole $9 000 before escaping with another large sum of money from a nearby butchery. Members of the public gave chase and arrested them. They are now assisting police with investigations.
• Eleven members of the MDC arrested last Wednesday during violence at the funeral of MDC’s Chiminya appeared in the magistrates court yesterday. (25 April) The twelfth accused was seriously injured during the melee and is in Pariyenyatwa Hospital. The State said the 11 attacked Zanu (PF) youths singing and chanting slogans while passing through the home where the funeral was held. This annoyed the MDC supporters who rose to confront the youths. On seeing the MDC members they took to their heels and sought refuge at President Mugabe’s old house in Highfield. The MDC members pursued them. On arrival they started stoning windows and drove away the police constable guarding the premises.