Pre-elections violence erupts in Buhera district

By Violet Gonda
26 September 2006

The Tsvangirai MDC has claimed that several of it’s members were injured this past weekend after they were attacked by suspected ZANU PF rivals in Buhera South in Manicaland province.

Provincial spokesperson Pishai Muchauraya said the ruling party thugs went door to door and attacked at least five activists late Sunday evening. One of them, Mekias Chapeyama, is said to have been hospitalised at Murambinda General Hospital.

Some others injured in separate attacks include Bevin Mugorosi, Enock Matsveru and Tapiwanashe Masamba. Muchauraya said a report was made on Monday to Buhera Police but he said even though the police were supplied with the names of the assailants no arrests have yet been made.

The spokesperson said although the police have claimed they are investigating the assaults, the opposition in the province has been left with no other choice but to find a “political solution” to protect its members. He would not be drawn to disclose how they were going to do that.
Another victim, Veronica Dingwiza (district chairperson for the MDC women’s assembly) confirmed to us that her house was burnt to the ground after marauding thugs descended on her house just after midnight Sunday. Dingwiza, who is 58 years old, said the vicious attacks were clearly politically motivated and an attempt to victimise and intimidate people in the run up to the rural council elections scheduled for October.

It’s reported that out of the 209 contested seats in Manicaland province, ZANU PF fielded 208 candidates, the Tsvangirai MDC 201and the Mutambara MDC 2.

There has not been information readily available about the exact list of candidates that have been fielded in all the contested areas of the country, but a summary of the results of the nomination in parts of Matebeleland province shows that the Mutambara MDC managed to field 15 in Gwanda, while ZANU PF fielded 16 and Tsvangirai MDC 1.