MDC say death toll in political violence has reached 20

By Lance Guma
01 May 2008

As Mugabe’s government prepares for a possible presidential election run-off the MDC say 20 of their supporters have been killed in terror campaigns run by Zanu PF militants. The party says the new figure takes into account 5 murders within a space of 4 days. ‘Tabitha Marume was shot and killed by soldiers at Chiwetu Rest Camp, Percy Muchiwa, a teacher in Guruve was on Monday beaten to death by Zanu PF supporters in Bakasa area,’ an MDC statement read. In Mashonaland Central Bigboy Zhuwawo and Tenos Manyimo died on Sunday after being attacked by Zanu PF militants. The 5th murder was that of Clemence Dube who was also attacked in Poshai Village of Shurugwi in the Midlands province.

Dube was an MDC polling agent during the March 29 election and the violence seems designed to ensure that prospective polling agents in a run-off will be reluctant to participate. Although the Zanu PF militants have in most cases got away with their bullyboy methods, villagers in some areas are fighting back. Newsreel understands that on Monday unarmed villagers in Makoni West confiscated rifles from 3 soldiers and 10 war veterans who were harassing and beating up people in the area for voting for the MDC. The villagers handed the rifles over to the police, who have shown no willingness to arrest the perpetrators.

The attacks have also targeted MDC staff members like Tichanzii Gandanga, a director of elections who was abducted around the 18th April and subjected to 4 days of torture before he escaped. He sustained broken legs and is receiving ongoing medical attention. MDC director of information Luke Tamborinyoka is still in custody on spurious charges of burning a bus during a strike called for by the MDC. The crackdown continued Wednesday with the state controlled Herald newspaper reporting that 10 MDC activists were arrested in Harare and Bindura. The state claims they engaged in public violence, kidnapping, attempted murder and resisting arrest, even though a consistent pattern of state-sponsored violence is emerging. Police are only arresting the victims.

On Thursday our Behind the Headlines series spoke to a UK based Zimbabwean, Martin Gazimbi, who says his father Mark Marufu Gazimbi was murdered by Zanu PF youths on 28th April. He says the incident took place in the Kondo village of Guruve around the Siyawamwaya shopping centre. His 49 year-old father was accused of supporting the opposition and beaten up. He tried to walk home and seek assistance but passed out. Attempts to resuscitate him failed. Gazimbi says the village headman tried to fast-track the burial without a post-mortem, but the family have stood firm and refused.