| Who is responsible? A preliminary analysis of pre-election violence in Zimbabwe June 20, 2000 |
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Contents « »Mashonaland Central Zanu (PF) Leaders Launch the Violence From the outset, Border Gezi, the Provincial Governor, has been a key instigator of the violence in Mashonaland Central. He is one of several leading Zanu (PF) officials to have singled out teachers, saying that if they want to become politicians they should expect "political treatment". In a speech at Chipadze Hall, Bindura, on 26 March he declared: "You must warn supporters of opposition parties that Zanu (PF) is well known for spilling blood". A few hours later his prediction was realised with the murder of an MDC supporter, Edwin Gomo, who had been attending a rally in Bindura. He died after being hit by a stone thrown by Zanu (PF) supporters. A few days after Gezi’s warning, the MDC support centre for the region was petrol bombed, trucks were burned and a vehicle stoned. In another early incident, the MDC deputy national organising secretary for youth who was a teacher at Murembe Secondary School was forced to leave after Zanu (PF) youths came looking for him and closed the school for a week. On 31 March a bus belonging to Tauya Coach Services, which carried MDC stickers, was doused in petrol by armed Zanu (PF) men in party T-shirts and set alight. On 2 April, a pregnant woman, was killed in Mvurwi after an attack upon MDC supporters coming from a rally. Another MDC supporter was shot and killed in a scuffle with war veterans in Centenary. On 7 April, President Mugabe addressed a rally at Manhenga, Bindura, issuing a "declaration of war". He spoke of his party’s intention to unleash violence upon opposition supporters, warning Morgan Tsvangirai that he was "inviting fire for himself" and swearing that he would "never" rule Zimbabwe [The Financial Gazette, 13 April 2000]. He threatened voters that if they vote MDC that: "my ghost [chidhoma] will come after you" [The Daily News, 10 April 2000]. President Mugabe accused MDC of starting violence and said that Zanu (PF) would "hit back in a big way".
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