Attacks on families and abductions on the rise

By Alex Bell
17 June 2008

As the date of the election run-off draws ever closer, it appears as if Zanu PF’s reign of terror is continuing to escalate, with a growing number of reports of violence, abductions and attacks on families of activists and MDC officials.

The whereabouts of the wife of MDC Mayor in Harare, Emmanuel Chiroto remain unknown after she and the couple’s four year old son were seized by a group of armed men at Chiroto’s house in Hatcliffe on Monday night. The child was found dumped outside a police station on Tuesday morning, but there has been no word from Chiroto’s wife or her abductors.

In a separate incident, a local organiser for the Combined Harare Resident’s Association was abducted by a mob of Zanu PF militia on Tuesday afternoon and is being held at the militia base in Sunningdale. The attack came less than twenty four hours after the woman’s adult son and daughter were abducted from their Sunningdale home on Monday evening. The pair managed to escape during the night.

The attacks are the most recent in a string of incidents targeting the families of activists and MDC officials. Almost two weeks ago, the 78-year-old grandmother of MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa, along with his mother and young brother were severely assaulted when armed soldiers raided their rural homestead in Gutu. The family of MDC MP elect for Mbare in Harare Piniel Denga, was also attacked by a group of Zanu-PF supporters at Daybroke resettlement scheme in Chivhu. Several nephews and nieces were force-marched from the family homestead to a torture camp at a place called Chipisa.

A few days before, Zanu PF thugs in Harare South set on fire a house belonging to the councilor for ward 1. The councilor, his pregnant wife and their 6-year-old son were all at home at the time of the attack. The 6-year old died in the blaze and the pregnant wife died on her way to hospital, while the councilor survived. Over the weekend police in Hatfield were said to be refusing to assist the family in compiling a report, which was also needed to secure a burial order. Harare South Zanu PF MP Hubert Nyanhongo was blamed for the attack.

Meanwhile, the abductions have continued throughout the country, with the news emerging that at least three teachers in the Manicaland area have been abducted since Friday. Tabani Moyo from the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition said the teachers, including a local primary school headmaster, were bundled into Zanu PF branded vehicles and hauled away in separate attacks.

Sources on the ground in Harare have told Newsreel with obvious fear that the situation is becoming out of hand and dangerous. Moyo said the atrocities being committed are becoming as brutal as those committed in 2000 and 2001.

Moyo said: “It is clear that Mugabe’s party is not interested in the election and that it only wants a certain outcome. Mugabe is sending out a clear statement that he wants to retain power at all costs, whether there is blood spilt.”

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