MDC official victimized over demo

By Lance Guma
19 August 2005

An MDC District official accused by police of masterminding last weeks Emakhandeni demonstration in Bulawayo is now facing fresh trumped up charges of destroying the home of a Zanu PF official. In a clear example of the un-relenting onslaught of Mugabe's regime, Thabiso Ndlovu, who is the District Secretary for Magwegwe-Lobengula, was slapped with the new charges soon after being cleared of the first one.

His home was ransacked by police on Thursday as police from the law and order section launched an over-dramatic raid. They went through his personal belongings searching for unknown items then told his frightened wife, 'tell your husband we are looking for him.' The state media had been running reports suggesting Ndlovu is the master-mind behind last Wednesday evening's demonstration. An official from the MDC described the new charges of malicious damage to property as a desperate ploy to convict him on something after the initial failure.

A house in the area belonging to a Zanu PF official identified only as Mai Judith, was stoned last week. Investigations by the MDC reveal that a daughter of the official got caught up in a love triangle resulting in the two competing men fighting over her. It is alleged that one of the men then stoned the house in frustration at being ditched. Opposition officials are furious that Ndlovu is now being sucked into a silly dispute simply because the state wants to secure a conviction.