Extreme Violence in Shamva and Centenary

6 May, 2008

In the last 48 hours it has been confirmed that 6 people were beaten to death in the Shamva area and 10 others have been killed in Centenary.

Many others are badly injured, houses have been burned and at least 100 more people are homeless and without food.

Wards at the Avenues clinic in Harare are reported to be over flowing, with some patients forced to sleep on mattresses on the floor. Horrific injuries are being reported including severe burns and many broken limbs.

Eye witness reports say that this violence was again perpetrated by armed soldiers, militia and gangs of Zanu PF youths. The attackers are saying; ‘We are here to teach you how to vote.’

Eddie Cross, the policy co-ordinator for the MDC , said at this point the MDC cannot consider amnesty for perpetrators of such unacceptable violence and the party is documenting all cases with a view to prosecuting the perpetrators, in their individual capacity.