Violent thugs order villagers to flee in Headlands
By Violet Gonda
16 JULY 2008

One of the main demands by the Tsvangirai MDC is an end to violence before any substantive inter party talks can begin, but state sponsored brutality against perceived opponents is continuing.

The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition reported that MDC supporters in Village 4C Chiendambuya in Headlands, Manicaland were forced to flee their homes on Tuesday by violent ZANU PF thugs. We were not able to find out how many people have fled but the pressure group said 14 opposition supporters were assaulted.

The group said: “Two were critically injured and are currently at a hospital in Harare whilst others are seeking refuge in the bush without any food. The victims also lost their possessions, including livestock, as a result of the attacks.”

A regional newspaper claimed this week that foreign mercenaries had been hired by the Mugabe regime to conduct some of the horrific murders that have left scores of people dead in the last three months.

MDC chairperson in Manicaland province Patrick Chitaka is quoted in the report saying: "We have observed that some of the people leading the violence are foreigners because they speak a different language and they do not understand our local languages.

"Also, the tactics they are using are not peculiar with Zimbabweans, because they are cutting out the tongues, removing eyes and genital parts. We are not sure where they come from."

However some observers believe the Mugabe regime is capable of using Zimbabweans to commit such brutal acts, as was seen in the mid 80s when 20 000 ethnic Ndebele people were killed in the Matabeleland region.

Meanwhile in Harare’s Mbare area ZANU PF thugs reportedly turned against each other. The Crisis Coalition said about 60 Zanu PF youths and 20 War Veterans clashed over illegal flea markets on Saturday
It is alleged the youths had been promised compensation by two losing Zanu PF candidates, Onismo Gore and Jimmy Kunaka, but went berserk when they found out that some war veterans had also been offered the same markets. Crisis said: “The two groups clashed resulting in the injury of 6 war veterans. However those injured were not able to visit any hospitals as the police were after them.”