Teenager killed, 4 houses burnt down in Bindura political violence

By Lance Guma
24 August 2006

A 19-year old irrigation assistant was killed in the Matepatepa area of Bindura after ruling Zanu PF supporters allegedly beat up opposition supporters and burnt down four houses Thursday morning. According to a Tsvangirai MDC spokesperson in the area, who chose to keep his name out of the interview with Newsreel, Elliot Manyika (MP) and Ephraim Masawi the governor for the province are leading a reign of terror. He says with local government elections approaching the two have declared the province a no-go area for the MDC during their rallies.

On Sunday at Bema Farm, Zanu PF youths frogmarched people from surrounding compounds to a rally addressed by Manyika. During the rally several MDC supporters were pinpointed and made to stand up during a ‘naming and shaming exercise.’ Some of those identified were then targeted Thursday morning as several of the new settlers on surrounding farms combined with ruling party youths to burn down the houses belonging to the alleged MDC supporters. The teenager who worked at the farm is said to have died of injuries sustaining after being beaten up. Newsreel was told the police have confirmed the death to the opposition officials but are refusing to disclose any further details.

The MDC spokesman told us that since the beginning of May over 10 incidents of violence have been reported to the police but in each case the Zanu PF supporters arrested have been released and made to pay paltry Z$250 000 fines (under the old values). He gave examples of how one councillor called Chiripanyaka beat up a 17-year old mother on account of her political affiliation. In July the houses belonging to the Chairman and his Vice Chairman in the area were also destroyed. A disabled MDC supporter known as Michael Zvondasi was assaulted for attending an MDC rally on the 22nd May leading to the arrest of Edmore Tapera and Jonathan Ngwenya. The two were released after paying fines.

The Bindura District Chairperson Gilson Chitakunye was attacked by a mob of 11 Zanu PF youths for wearing an MDC t-shirt. Another party supporter Farisai Chirupe lost her job at Sherifstone Company after Zanu PF officials demanded her dismissal for supporting the opposition. The MDC official told us ‘this is outright terrorism being instigated by Manyika in Bindura.’