ZANU-PF launches “Operation Mavhotera papi” to punish opposition

By Tererai Karimakwenda
14 April, 2008

Reports of violence by the youth militia and so-called war veterans have intensified in the Murehwa North Constituencies. We understand that this violent campaign aimed at opposition activists and officials has now been code named “Operation Mavhotera papi”.

Our Murehwa contact Kumbirai reported on Monday that all their youth members, candidates, polling agents and known supporters have been on the run all weekend. They are being hunted down by ZANU-PF’s political commissar for Murehwa, va Mavhungire, who is also the District Coordinating Committee chairperson for the area. He is moving around wearing an army uniform and summoning villagers to come to a meeting “yema soldier”. Known opposition supporters are being beaten at these meetings.

Our contacts said Mavhungire is accompanied by a former war veteran named Kahuni, who is now chairperson of ZANU-PF Murehwa district. A youth leader named Murefu is alleged to be helping Kahuni to point out opposition supporters to be victimized.

In Ward 16 on Monday, youth members of the MDC were sent to assist abducted members. But it was feared that the MDC youth might be outnumbered because there were many government vehicles in that area.

Kumbirai said in Village 10, which borders Murehwa and Mutoko, there were some women abducted this weekend. A group of youth members sent there managed to get the women freed before they were beaten severely. Sadly though, a youth member who helped on Sunday was found dead on the road in Mhondoro on Monday.

In Ward 3 Murehwa, Mavhungire and his team gathered villagers for a meeting on Sunday. MDC youth who went to check out the meeting arrived to see some of their members and women from their families being severely assaulted.

In Makoni South, newly elected MDC MP Pishai Muchauraya reports that over 500 MDC supporters were displaced after their homes were attacked by a war veteran and his colleagues. We have no other details of the attacks.

The violence in Murehwa was threatened by the Minister of Health David Parirenyatwa, who is also the MP for Murehwa North. As we reported on Friday, Parirenyatwa addressed a meeting in Murehwa town on Friday where he said that ZANU-PF has the names of opposition activists and sympathizers and would be going round on Friday night to beat them up as a lesson. He kept his word.