New Murambatsvina wave hits Kwekwe

By Tichaona Sibanda
18 October 2007

38 families from Amaveni in KweKwe were last week left homeless after council officials from the town, accompanied by heavily armed police officers, used sledgehammers to knock down their homes.

The latest crackdown against ‘illegal’ housing by the Zanu-PF led council in the town has met with harsh condemnation from the local MDC MP Blessing Chebundo, who described it as ‘heartless’ and politically motivated.

The demolitions were carried out last week Tuesday on a plot in Chiwundura B where most of those affected had lived for more than 40 years. Chebundo said reports they got were that anyone who tried to resist was dealt with brutally.

The MP said feelings are running very high in the area which is a known stronghold of the MDC. Over 120 people are now living on the streets.

‘This is political retribution against MDC supporters. The same people were targeted in 2003 for voting MDC in 2002. In 2005 some homes in the plot were demolished and now they have come back to ensure no one will be around to vote in 2008,’ Chebundo said.

While the constituency in KweKwe is held by the MDC, council operations are still run by a Zanu-PF elected Mayor, assisted by officials appointed during the reign of Emmerson Mnangagwa, the former Zanu-PF legislator for the town.

Chebundo defeated Mnangagwa in the 2000 parliamentary elections but not before escaping death by a whisker during a bitter campaign when Zanu-PF youths who had abducted him from his house doused him with petrol but were unable to light a match.

‘We are still dealing with callous and murderous Zanu-PF officials in the town. The problem is they are fighting a losing battle, hence they resort to all extremes to try and influence things in their favour,’ Chebundo said.

The MP urged humanitarian groups to visit the area and help with food, blankets and shelter. He said at moment they have only managed to raise enough tents to shelter young members from the families affected.