| Who is responsible? A preliminary analysis of pre-election violence in Zimbabwe June 20, 2000 |
||
Contents « »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 East Mutoko Country Club This club belongs to Mutoko Rural District Council. The Community Hall is in the Country Club, and men and women are known to be staying there permanently. People are being taken to the hall and tortured. Following the beatings, some are being offered the choice to stay and join the militia or to return home, where they are likely to be subject to further violence. The militia have been observed being drilled outside like soldiers, but seemingly using wood fashioned to look like guns. One victim who was taken to the hall counted 75 people staying there, with the males sleeping in the hall and females sleeping in a room. Their commander is said to be named Hodzi. The Country Club is usually used as a polling station. The council chairman, Odour Nyakudanga is also a Zanu (PF) central committee member and he is said to have given the Zanu (PF) youths and war veterans based there council vehicles to move around in. Mutoko South Mutoko Murehwa South Murehwa North Murehwa A witness reported that local youths were being intimidated or coerced into going to the farms and to the ZexCom office. He said the war veterans on Stevens Arizona Farm in Macheke were also operating out of the office and that they rotate according to a "duty roster". He said it was clear that they were being paid for their activities: "When Mike Mujuru [a war vet occupying Stevens farm] once beat the MDC chairman in Murehwa and left him for dead, he was rewarded and got a new bicycle." The man supplying food and drink and supporting those at the ZexCom office financially is said to be Makunde, who is is his 60s and owns the "hot pot" a food outlet at the shopping centre. His son is an ex-combatant and a former MP. Describing the routine for those who are taken inside the office one local resident said "you are told the 10 rules of "why not to vote MDC", this is part of the reeducation; you are beaten by the youths and you are given to the womens league and made to chant slogans." Fault Farm in Marimatombo is also reported to be a base, under the command of a man named Garwe. Wedza Chikomba Goromonzi Marondera Uzumba Maraba Pfungwe |