Some confusion surrounded the validity of press reports that two MDC activists Edward Ndiweni and Albert Sibanda were abducted, then murdered, in the rural Matobo district. The MDC had responded by dispatching a team of officials led by Eddie Cross to go and investigate. It’s alleged the bodies of Ndiweni and Sibanda were discovered by villagers in an abandoned farm in the district. The two are said to have been part of scores of activists abducted on the 25th May this year and tortured for 3 days at an undisclosed location. As with murdered cameraman Edward Chikomba, the abductors are thought to have dumped the activists after realising they were either dead or badly injured.

Cross however told Newsreel they travelled the entire breadth of Matobo and no one could confirm the story. They also spoke to police officers in the district whom he described as very cooperative but nothing came up to substantiate the story. Lovemore Moyo, the MDC Chairperson for the province, was not willing to be drawn into the matter saying as far he was concerned he knew nothing about the incident. He said all he heard was local chat about the discovery of the bodies and nothing more. Cross meanwhile says either the journalist got the area wrong, or the story is false. He says there are a lot of people with the surname Ndiweni in Bulilimamangwe and this might be the area the incident took place in. Their investigations will now turn to this area.

Police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena is quoted by Zimonline as confirming the discovery of the bodies and saying the police would investigate the circumstances surrounding the case and those responsible. The website insists their story is accurate and that Bvudzijena confirmed the details. They have asked their journalist to get an Incident Report number for the case.

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