MDC-T calls on police to act against terror group Chipangano

MDC-T Party spokesman Douglas Mwonzora

By Tichaona Sibanda
12 October 2011

A highly charged meeting of the national executive of the MDC-T on Wednesday called on the police to fulfil their constitutional mandate by putting an end to Chipangano’s brutal attacks on innocent citizens.

The party said Chipangano’s terror in Harare must come to a stop. Party spokesman Douglas Mwonzora told journalists after their executive meeting in Harare that police must act professionally and fulfil their constitutional mandate.

‘In most rural areas, night vigils are being held which are characterised by rapes, intimidation and violence. The police are aware of these activities but they turn a blind eye on these criminal activities,’ Mwonzora said.

Dozens of Harare residents have been viciously assaulted by this extremely violent gang who have been on the rampage since the beginning of the year. The gang, which has intensified its attacks in recent weeks, are the chief suspects in a number of brutal crimes including extortion, assault and murder.

The terror group, which is Mbare based has been causing ‘complete mayhem’ in urban Harare areas for months. The group has also seized control of market stalls in the capital as well as extorting money from transport operators at various bus terminals dotted around Harare.

Members of this group are well known ZANU PF activists who act with impunity, while police stand and watch during many of the activists’ attacks, including when legislators and journalists were beaten up in Parliament two months ago.

Piniel Denga, the MDC-T MP for Mbare told us Chipangano gang members brazenly commit robberies and assaults while the authorities fail to take action. He said this terrible cycle of violence and impunity needs to stop, though he conceded this would be a tall order considering the police and Chipangano ‘were into this together.’
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‘The police do nothing because they are part of Chipangano. The gang’s activities are co-ordinated from the office of the member in charge of Matapi police station. The CIO is also involved and is part of the organizational structure of Chipangano. They meet regularly at Matapi to draw up plans of who to beat up, rob or extort money from,’ Denga said.

The MP claimed this ‘crime syndicate’ is making huge financial profits, as much as $5,000 a day, from extorting money from market stall holders and transport operators.

‘This is now a mafia operating in conjunction with the police. I’ve lost faith in this force and I made my views known to the officer-in-charge at Matapi and his immediate boss, threatened me with arrest,’ the MP said.