MDC say 43 killed in worsening political violence

By Lance Guma
19 May 2008

The MDC have said 43 of their activists have been killed so far in worsening post-election violence countrywide. The official death toll stood at 41 over the weekend, but the party received information on Monday that two decomposed bodies had been unearthed in a village near Goromonzi just outside Harare. The bodies had gunshot and knife wounds. The party is yet to confirm the identity of these murdered activists, but party spokesman Nelson Chamisa told Newsreel they had dispatched a team to verify the identities.

Meanwhile concern is growing over the welfare of activist Tonderai Ndira who was abducted from his home in Mabvuku by heavily armed police last Wednesday. Ndira, a veteran of 35 police arrests, was beaten up in front of his wife and children before his abductors bundled him into a white 4x4 pick-up and drove away. Ndira is the MDC secretary for security in the Youth Assembly and an activist with the Combined Harare Residents Association. His abduction is part of a state-sponsored crackdown targeting key opposition activists. Lawyers, students, trade unionists, diplomats and other activists have all been targeted.

The President and Secretary General of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions were finally released on Monday after spending almost 11 days in custody. Lovemore Matombo and Wellington Chibebe were released on Z$20 billion bail each and told not to interfere with state witnesses and not to address any political rallies. The state accuses the two of communicating falsehoods when they allegedly told workers during May Day celebrations that two teachers had been murdered at Kondo School in Guruve. Both deny that they ever said this.
The Zimbabwe Liberators Platform (ZLP) has strongly condemned what it calls the ‘systematic reign of terror unleashed by Zanu PF on innocent children, women and men in rural areas across Zimbabwe.’ The organization which groups together veterans of Zimbabwe’s liberation war said Zanu PF militants were targeting anyone suspected of voting for the MDC. Femias Chakabuda, the national chairman of the ZLP, questioned why Zanu PF bothered to participate in an election if it was not prepared to accept the ‘people’s verdict’. He said no genuine war veteran would beat up people, simply because they chose to vote for a party other than Zanu PF.