MDC chief elections agent for Chivi disappears

By Tichaona Sibanda
18 April 2008

A manhunt has been launched in Chivi, Masvingo province for a 35 year-old election agent for the MDC whose disappearance has raised fears that he may have been abducted by state security agents.
Farai Zavidze, a well-known figure in the district and an outspoken critic of Mugabe’s regime, vanished from his Chivi north home on Wednesday evening. On Friday, the MDC’s parliamentary candidate for Chivi north Bernard Chiondegwa expressed fears that Zavidze may have been abducted.

His relatives have approached the police for help but have received little cooperation from the authorities. Described as the MDC’s driving force in the district, Zavidze had been a target of political violence.
‘He has disappeared in extremely worrying circumstances. No one knows about his whereabouts but one thing is certain, that he has been abducted because of his bold stand against the dictatorship,’ Chiondegwa said.

The MDC made major inroads in Masvingo province in last month’s elections where they won 15 out of 26 seats. Before the poll, the party only had one seat. The heavy loses suffered by Zanu-PF have led to the massive retribution exercise against the opposition.
‘Our agents and activists are paying a heavy price for the great work they did for the party and the people of Zimbabwe. Our provincial chairman was telling me a lot of other agents and activists have gone into hiding fearing for their lives,’ he said.

MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai on Thursday called on the United Nations to set up a special court to try Robert Mugabe and his allies for human-rights abuses.

The regime has yet to release results from the March 29 presidential elections. Human-rights groups, including Harare- based Sokwanele, are concerned that Zanu-PF party has deployed it’s militia to rural areas to intimidate voters ahead of a possible presidential run-off ballot.