House of Zimbabwean civic leader petrol bombed in Harare
By Violet Gonda
1 January 2007

The house of Dr Lovemore Madhuku, the chairperson of the pressure group National Constitutional Assembly, was petrol-bombed in Waterfalls around midnight on Saturday. The outspoken civic leader told SW Radio Africa the attack was politically motivated. He said; “It is very clearly political. What other person would just come to your house to just throw petrol bombs and go away? That cannot be done by an ordinary person.” He added; “Fortunately no one was hurt, the damage is more the panicking and intimidation, burnt curtains and broken windows.” 

Dr Madhuku said he was woken up at 12:30pm by noises that sounded like a huge blast outside and within seconds saw flames. He said; “I didn’t know what was happening and initially we put the kids under the bed but realised that it was a fire that was going to consume the house. We panicked when we saw the fire surrounding the house and you can imagine the pandemonium that ensued with young kids crying.” He said the family was helped by other people to put out the fire and two plastic containers with petrol were allegedly found outside the house. Dr Madhuku says although they didn’t see the culprits they saw that the petrol was put right around the house including around the garage. “I think the intention was having the car in the garage catch fire so that the whole house would blow up in the inferno.” A report was made to the Waterfalls police station. No arrests have been made. Although he has personally been at the receiving end of state sponsored brutality Madhuku said the regime is now taking extreme measures by targeting his family. He said; “I only feel for my family who had to run for their lives over issues they have nothing to do with.” The NCA chairperson who is a staunch critic of the Mugabe regime said he knows where this is coming from and believes it is to do with several informal campaigns that the pressure group embarked on during the Christmas period. He said the NCA, which is fighting for a people driven democratic constitution, has been conducting countrywide arrangements whereby provincial structures have been attending public functions to sensitise the people. Madhuku explained that the informal meetings now include speaking at some funeral and church gatherings, since conducting formal gatherings is becoming more and more difficult as a result of draconian security laws enacted by the regime.

He believes he could also be targeted because of statements he has been making to the media over attempts by Mugabe to harmonise the presidential and parliamentary elections and extend his term of office from 2008 to 2010. Madhuku has said this will be the unifying factor for the pro-democracy groups in Zimbabwe to fight with one voice and to organise mass action.