Who is responsible?
A preliminary analysis of pre-election violence
in Zimbabwe
June 20, 2000


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Bases
It must be stressed that the information about alleged bases derives from secondary sources. However, in some instances a number of people have made identical or similar allegations about particular bases and the identity of ruling party officials allegedly involved. Additionally, monitors have independently confirmed some these allegations.

Mashonaland Central
Shamva
The rural district council office which used to be a library is being used as a base from which to attack surrounding communities. Victims have also been captured and taken there. The head of the operation was Artwell Chiwara, the area manager of Shamva gold mine. He is now under arrest, but his brother Sydney Chiwara is also said to be involved. ‘Big Sam’, a miner, has been named as another leader of the gang based there. Financial support said to be coming from Nicholas Goche, a deputy minister, Chiwara and Mrs Mhene who is a councillor in Bushu Jiti area. About 50 Zanu (PF) youths and war veterans wearing Zanu (PF) T-shirts were on site at the time of observation.

Mount Darwin North
The homestead of Chief Gomo. At the time of observation more than 60 Zanu (PF) supporters were present, wearing T-shirts and armed with sticks and stones. The leaders are said to be Chief Gomo, Councillor Gatsi and a number of war veterans.

Centenary
There were early reports that the Zanu(PF) candidate, Zinzi for the area was directing operations from the Farm Health Scheme complex and being escorted by youths who are referred to as Makanganwa Magarika (you have forgotten about the 1970s war and now you are sitting pretty). A later report was that a shop owned by Border Gezi, the provincial governor, is being used as a meeting place for Zanu (PF) supporters engaged in violence. Comrade Advance, who is said to be a serving member of the army is one of the leaders of the militia in Centenary and part of the time he is operating from a building owned by Gezi.

Advance is also said to be a key commander of a unit whose responsibility extends as far as Mvurwi, Zinzi is said to be his political counterpart and the two are said to have another camp in the bush along the road from Mount Darwin to Mutepatepa.

Bindura
At Manhenga, about 20 kms out of Bindura there are youths and war veterans camped at Feathers Inn. The leader is said to be John, the chairman of Bindura Town Council and a war veteran. Other leaders were identified as Chidzwa, a war veteran, and Mr Timozo, another councillor. Two of the youths based there are named as Lovemore Manyembere and Joshua Kasaka, said to be a close relative of Chen Chimutengwende, the Minister of Information.

Militia are also thought to be based at Shashi Farm, Border Gezi’s farm, about 10 kilometres outside Bindura along the Mt. Darwin road.

Mount Darwin Centre
Initially youths were said to be occupying a building which belonged to Terry Marodza, a key organiser of the violence in the area. They were cleared out of there by the army. They are said to have since moved to the old storerooms of the informal traders near the bus terminus. They are headed by Mhembere, an informal trader who has been accused of involvement in several assaults. There are 27 men and one woman staying there. They are said to be getting their funding from Kasukuwere’s sister Sarah and to be demanding a cut of their wages from the informal sector workers who are working at the ZimBank bus stop. Latest reports are that they have been moved on again

Madziwa
The base is said to be at a building rented by Nicholas Goche, a deputy minister, and owned by the elder brother of the police commissioner Augustine Chihuri.

Mazoe East
Nzvimbo growth point: local youths are said to be staying at the Nzvimbo guest house and are said to be being funded by Chen Chimutengwende and Border Gezi. Although they are locals, it is said they prefer to sleep there because they have committed crimes in their home areas. There were 24 men and 3 women there at the time of observation.

Glendale
Local youths are said to be stationed at the booking rooms at the Council beer halls and Cocktail bar in Tsvungubve township.

Guruve
The Zanu (PF) supporters meet at the Council beer hall and wear Zanu (PF) T-shirts. They move around in groups of three or four and are said to be being given money by Chindore Chininga, a Zanu (PF) candidate for Guruve South.

Lower Guruve
The Zanu (PF) office in the Bakasa shopping centre is the base for a group which is said to be terrorizing travellers to the Mushumbi Pools area. There were 17 men there at the time of the observation, four of them war veterans and the rest youths. The MP for the area, Paul Mazikana is said to be involved and the Women’s League is also said to be active.   TOP