Report on political violence in Bulawayo, Harare, Manicaland, Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South and Midlands

July 29, 2000

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Harare

Violence against opposition party office bearers and supporters

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Case 17: Chitungwiza
On 1 June I was campaigning on Derbyshire Farm, near Chitungwiza, at around 3.00 pm. I had an entourage of 36 people, and there were about 120-150 people attending the meeting. While I was addressing the people, a Mazda pick-up, white in colour, came up, bearing 15 to 17 people wearing Zanu (PF) T-shirts. I know some of them: Ali Mangwenya. Edmore Tinaruro, Miriam, Jahannes, Mudhuwiwa, Stanley, "Rasta", Paddington Nyama, George Tsvuura, and several others. They were wielding sjamboks, iron bars, bicycle chains and knobkerries. Since my people were not armed, I advised them to flee for their lives. The Zanu (PF) people started attacking everyone who was present at the rally. I ran away. It’s a rocky area, and many people fell down, injuring themselves. The Zanu (PF) supporters caught up with me, whilst shouting, "We want Musasiwa!" Ali Mangwenya pushed me over a cliff. I fell a distance of about 6metres into the dip and injured my left leg on the shin. I crawled for about 40 to 50 minutes, trying to get away form the assailants (they did not know that I was Musasiwa). I managed to reach the Seke road , and hired a lift to Chitungwiza Police Station, where I made a report.

They took me to the site, together with some police from Waterfalls Police Station, who had been phoned by the Chitungwiza guys. We arrived to find that the tyres on my car had been deflated, and some of the property and parts of the car had been stolen. The damage to the car comes to about $10 000, and the spare wheel, jack, wheel spanner and my jacket were also stolen. There was a sum of about $38 000 stolen in cash as well. A report was compiled by the Waterfalls Police, and I was told to go. The police are now claiming that they have lost the docket. I have fled my home and am staying in my offices in Union Ave. I had earlier applied for a peace order against Tony Gara and Douglas Mutyoramwendi, which was set for hearing in October. TOP