Zanu PF’s ‘Chipangano’ brigade behind abductions of MDC activists

By Lance Guma
27 March 2007

There is growing evidence that a notorious brigade within Zanu PF known as ‘Chipangano’ is behind the abduction of several MDC activists in the past weeks. The gang has been used in the past to terrorise opposition supporters but had gone underground for some time. It is thought it has been reactivated to try and crush rising discontent. Information gathered by Newsreel suggests that Superintendent Tenderere is leading the operation from the Harare Central Police Station’s Law and Order Section.

Zanu PF youth leader Bornwell Karoro who lives in Sunningdale is the gang leader and is normally accompanied by other youths identified as Martin Matinyanya, Chaza and Gore all from Mbare. The gang has allegedly been issued with ID cards from the police force and CIO and these cards are being used to gain entry into people’s homes for purposes of abducting well know opposition activists. The gang has already been issued with a silver Nissan Hardbody vehicle, which is being used during the raids. Another worry for the opposition is that the gang has also been issued with firearms.

The MDC has meanwhile supplied information on some of the incidents that have been taking place. On Friday in Kuwadzana a 55-year-old father of 2 MDC activists was abducted from his home at around 11pm by a gang of 7 youths armed with handguns and showing police ID cards. They beat him up and drove him to the Darwendale Zanu PF office, again in a silver twin cab. He was dumped in a bush near the offices before he managed to crawl his way to a nearby police station and find his way back to Harare. He is said to have sustained a fractured leg and arm.

On Monday evening the home of a local Marondera MDC campaigner was raided by the same squad. Its alleged the person they were seeking was not at home and so they abducted his son and nephew. The MDC says the two men were found in the bush near Mahusekwa and Harare South Club having been thoroughly beaten. The opposition say they tried to send a vehicle to pick them up but the two ran away thinking it was state security agents coming back for them.

MDC officials are convinced a pattern is emerging where all their office bearers are being targeted for abduction and beatings. Deputy Youth Minister Saviour Kasukuwere has been fingered in at least two of the abductions. He is accused of being the chief strategist for the whole operation. Kasukuwere is a former CIO operative who was based in Mutare before a spectacular rise within the Zanu PF ranks saw him become MP and deputy minister.