| Report on political violence in
Bulawayo, Harare, Manicaland, Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland
South and Midlands July 29, 2000 |
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Contents « BulawayoHarare Violence against opposition party office bearers and supporters « Case index « Prev case Next case » Case 5: MufakoseI am an MDC official in Mufakose. I heard that there were threats that my house would be destroyed and I would be killed. I went to the police, but the police told me they do not take action on the basis of threats. I organized 20 MDC youths to guard my home. On the 10 June, while I was at home, Border Gezi and Sabina Thembani drove past my house in two cars. They were pointing at my house. The police also passed the house, and I told them what had happened. At about 1.00 pm, a white truck came to my house, with about 30 Zanu (PF) youths on it. They threatened the youths that I had organized, but left after exchanging some words. The police came immediately thereafter. The police asked how many people there were at my house, and when I told him, he wanted to know why there were so many. After I had explained, he said that everyone should leave, and that I should remain on my own. The Zanu (PF) youths came again, and were repelled by our youths. I then dismissed about 14 of my guys, leaving 6 to protect the house. I went out with two guys to buy flour to make paste for sticking up our posters. While we were out, the Zanu (PF) youths came again. This was around 7.00 pm. They broke all the windows, broke into the house, and destroyed furniture. They entered my bedroom as well. There was about $18 000 in the house, and they took this, along with my wife’s sewing machine. The estimated damage they did was about $30 000 to $60 000 worth of property. My wife and daughter were at the house whilst the Zanu (PF) people were destroying it. My daughter was choked, and my wife was struck on the hip with an axe. We went to the police to make a report, after recalling the guys that I had dismissed. My wife and the 3 other people who were there can identify the people who did it. We gave the names to the police. Two days later, on the 12 June, the police came around in the afternoon. They searched the house, claiming that we were keeping guns and petrol bombs on the premises. They did not find anything. Our guards were told to leave, and they did so, but came back after the police had left. They were picked up by the police on the 16 June, and are being held at the Central Police Station. TOP |