Fear grips Chipinge East as soldiers go on rampage
By Tichaona Sibanda
22 November 2010
MDC activists have gone into hiding in some areas of Chipinge East after
armed soldiers went around the constituency flushing out known opponents of
ZANU PF and beating them up.
The soldiers, camped at Suwesu farm in Chipinge, have been on a rampage
since last week forcing villagers to chant ZANU PF slogans. Those that
failed to chant the former ruling party slogans were deemed to be pro-MDC
and faced the wrath of the marauding soldiers.
‘There is pandamonium here as most young people are fleeing their homes
fearful of the soldiers who are terrorising anyone thought to be MDC. You
cannot challenge them because they are roaming around the area in uniform
and carrying guns,’ an MDC-T official who asked not to be named said.
He told us that Suwesu farm, which the soldiers are using as a base camp,
was sold to Tanganda holdings by its origional owner some years ago but was
recently taken over by some elements in the military.
‘Recently we heard that Tanganda holdings was forced to remove some of its
livestock that was still on the farm. But who owns the property now still
remains a mystery because the area is a no go area for most individuals,’
the source said.
What is clear he added, was that the soldiers were working hand in hand with
ZANU PF people in Chipinge East. ZANU PF activists are the ones that
identify known MDC supporters to the soldiers.
‘As a precaution, most people are spending time in hiding in far away areas
from their homes. People are scared and the soldiers are promising worse
atrocities that those witnessed in 2008,’ our source added.
SW Radio Africa could not get comment from the MDC-T MP for the area,
Mathias Mlambo, who was reportedly visiting Nyanga on party business.
Neighbouring MP for Chipinge South, Meki Makuyana, confirmed reports of the
beatings.
‘I was in the area over the weekend and I got to hear of the beatings by the
soldiers. Mlambo is aware of the situation and I know he has briefed the
party leadership about the issue,’ Makuyana said.
Two weeks, the same group of soldiers launched a lunchtime raid on Green
Valley farm in Chipinge East and took away some MDC officials.
One of those ‘abducted’ by the soldiers, who were brandishing AK47 rifles,
was Solomon Mazvokwadi, an MDC-T ward youth chairman for the area.
Mazvokwadi was badly tortured by the soldiers and is still recuperating.