MDC says 500 activists may have died in political violence
By Tichaona Sibanda
14 July 2008

There are indications the number of MDC activists killed in the aftermath of the 29th March elections may be over 500, as more bodies continue to be discovered in shallow graves countrywide, according to a senior member of the MDC.

Elias Mudzuri, the MDC MP for Warren Park in Harare and the party’s organising secretary, said figures from their investigations reveal a ‘very frightening trend’ where missing people are now turning up dead in large numbers.

‘The MDC official figure of people dead from violence has been over 115 but as we move around the countryside and talk to people you discover that people are telling us that the figure we have is a gross underestimation,’ Mudzuri said.

The former Mayor of Harare said it’s going to take them some time to come up with the correct number of victims of the political bloodshed by Zanu-PF. He said that most victims in rural areas were killed in military type operations.

‘They simply abducted people, tortured them, killed them and desposed of the bodies either in shallow graves or just left them in the bush. The government knows better the number of people it has killed but it’s unfortunate they might not disclose the figures, Mudzuri added.

The MP insisted Zanu-PF must stop the state sponsored violence if the country was to move forward. He explained that talks to negotiate a political settlement aimed at restoring peace and stability can only succeed if Zanu-PF dismantled its militia bases and ordered its soldiers back to the barracks.
The National Executive Council of the MDC is expected to meet this week to be appraised of the consultative talks last week in Pretoria between the political rivals. It’s believed a memorandum of understanding has been drawn up by the two parties and this may be used as the basis for any talks. But Mudzuri remained adamant that no talks will take place as long as their supporters continue to be maimed and killed by Zanu-PF.

‘You can’t have a gun wedged at your throat and asked to talk peace. What we are looking for is a peaceful transition where people can start talking to each other as brother and brother and not as enemies,’ said Mudzuri.

He added; ‘What Zanu-PF has done is to create animosity and hatred between relatives. This is why we are calling for a transitional period to heal the friction between families in rural areas.’