Political violence erupts in Zvimba
Tuesday, 02 April 2013 10:31
HARARE – Political violence is escalating in Mashonaland West, after an
activist loyal to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC was viciously
battered by alleged Zanu PF youths on March 25.
Wilson Anderson, the MDC branch chairperson in ward 35 in Zvimba East,
sustained serious injuries after he was assaulted at Somerby Estate
allegedly by eight Zanu PF youths led by one Moses Sanadi.
Sanadi was subsequently arrested on Saturday, and the rest are still on the
run.
Mashonaland West police spokesperson Clemence Mabweazara confirmed the
arrest.
“I can confirm that there was political violence in Zvimba East and arrests
were made but Somerby is under Norton which is the policing area of Harare
province,” he said.
“You can get more information from there.”
National police spokesperson Charity Charamba was not immediately available
for comment yesterday as her mobile phone went unanswered.
Anderson, who is a previous arson victim after his home was torched in the
run-up to the 2002 presidential election, was this time allegedly assaulted
for attending the burial of Christpower Maisiri who died in an inferno last
month in Mashonaland East Province.
He was treated at Norton Council Hospital where he received eight stitches
below his left eye.
MDC organising secretary for Mashonaland West Wilson Makanyaire told the
Daily News the party was disturbed by the recent upsurge of political
violence and called on political leaders to rein in their supporters ahead
of elections.
“As the party leadership, we went to Zvimba East to verify the facts but as
you are aware I am a member of the Joint Monitoring and Implementation
Committee (Jomic) so I cannot comment more.
“I refer you to the threesome Jomic chairpersons of the province,” said
Makanyaire.
MDC provincial secretary Greenwich Ndanga — who ferried Anderson to
hospital — said the Zanu PF youths who attacked Anderson were accusing him
of continuing to participate in MDC activities as well as recruiting more
people.
“They were hiding in a maize field near his homestead and attacked him when
he was about to enter his kitchen,” Ndanga said.
“They accused him of being a sell-out after they saw his picture in the
Daily News at the burial of Christpower.
“He went to mourn with the Maisiri family because he is an arson victim
himself after his two children were disfigured in a similar incident
allegedly at the hands of suspected Zanu PF again in 2002.”
Political violence has reared its ugly head in Mugabe’s home province since
last year after Zanu PF declared it a no-go area for the MDC.
Houses belonging to MDC activists were reportedly burnt down by suspected
Zanu PF functionaries and at one point party secretary-general Tendai Biti
was forced to address supporters in the bush in Darwendale following
skirmishes with Zanu PF supporters. – Staff Writer
