Abducted MDC activists found dead in Matobo

By Lance Guma
18 June 2007

Online news agency Zimonline reports that 2 MDC officials abducted by suspected state agents in May were found murdered last week Thursday in Matobo. The bodies of Edward Ndiweni and Albert Sibanda from the Tsvangirai MDC were found by villagers at an abandoned farm in the district. Zimonline quotes police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena as confirming the discovery and said the police were investigating the matter. ‘I can confirm that the two were found dead on Thursday . . . police are still investigating the case and we hope we will be able to account for those responsible,’ Bvudzijena told the news site.

According to the report Ndiweni and Sibanda were abducted from their homes on 25th May by 6 men driving an unmarked red Toyota Corolla, with no number plates. Although other activists abducted at the same time were released, although only after severe torture, the whereabouts of the 2 remained unknown until their bodies were discovered last week. The MDC Member of Parliament for Matobo Lovemore Moyo is quoted as confirming the incident and blamed the abduction and murder of the activists on Mugabe’s regime. ‘It is unfortunate that the government’s intolerance of dissenting voices and its disrespect of the MDC as an opposition party has led to this,” he said.

Newsreel tried to get in touch with Moyo on Monday but was told he is in South Africa on business. The MDC is meanwhile still trying to piece together details of the killings. Spokesperson Nelson Chamisa was reluctant to comment until his department had received sufficient information, while senior official Eddie Cross said he will be travelling to Matobo on Tuesday to speak to the families of the deceased.