Manicaland province under siege by war veterans and militia

By Alex Bell
19 August 2008

The violence and intimidation against MDC activists has continued in Zimbabwe as efforts to reach a power sharing arrangement between the opposition and ZANU PF have thus far failed.

MDC officials in the Manicaland province have reported another abduction, following the kidnapping and assault of the wife of an opposition activist in Buhera South. Juliet Dakacha, wife of activist Killian Chirau, was abducted on Thursday and then released the same day after she was severely beaten and tortured. Chirau’s younger brother, Moses has since been kidnapped by suspected war veterans and ZANU PF militia over the weekend and is believed to be held at the notorious Mutiusinazita torture base.

The MDC spokesman for the Manicaland constituency, Pishai Muchauraya, told Newsreel on Tuesday that Juliet Dakacha has been unable to receive medical care or be transported to hospital because most of the party’s vehicles are in the hands of police who confiscated them during the turbulent period following the March 29 elections. Muchauraya added that hundreds of MDC supporters around the country have yet to receive medical care for election-period injuries, due to lack of transport and other problems.

Muchauraya confirmed that war veterans are still carrying out a violent campaign against MDC supporters in the Manicaland province. He said Buhera South is the worst affected area as groups under the leadership of the notorious Joseph Chinotimba are “terrorising the area” and “brutalising our supporters”. MDC MP-elect for Buhera South, Naison Nemadziva, remains in hiding in Mutare, after serious threats against his life by ZANU PF militia. Muchauraya said the thugs have threatened to kill Nemadziva, saying his seat belongs to ZANU PF.

Meanwhile, as the war veterans and militia continue their reign of terror, Muchauraya said people are beginning to starve to death. He said in Makoni South alone, five people have already died of starvation, and added that in the next two weeks, “without humanitarian aid, you can count on thousands more dying”. He added that ZANU PF “manipulation” is forcing people to give up their livestock for meagre amounts of maize meal, and the militia are controlling people’s lives by stealing their limited food supplies. He said that the severe lack of food in the province is “not sparing anyone” and even those with money are starving.