MDC candidate brutalised during campaigning in Makoni East

By Violet Gonda
27 October 2006

An opposition candidate was allegedly beaten up on Thursday by ruling party members in the Makoni East area of Manicaland province. This is ahead of the weekend rural district council elections. Narrating her ordeal on Newsreel Loveness Makaure, the candidate for the Tsvangirai MDC, said she bumped into Councillor Remius Muchineuta the ZANU PF candidate, as she was campaigning in Jani resettlement area.

She alleges things immediately got nasty and she was ordered to leave after Muchineuta said this was a no-go area for the opposition. When she refused Muchineuta reportedly instructed the ZANU PF district youth chairperson, a man called Masunda, to discipline the her.

Makaure said Masunda beat her up thoroughly with fists and touched her breasts and buttocks. She also claims the candidate’s son, Martin Muchineuta, slapped her Organising Secretary Elizabeth Fundisayi, several time across the face.

Although a report was made to Nyazura police, nothing had been done to reprimand the culprits resulting in the victims going into hiding last night, as they had been threatened with more physical abuse. But it’s reported that the ZANU PF youths were at the police station Friday, although it was not clear if they had been arrested.

The opposition claims violence has flared up in some parts of rural areas where elections are going to be held. Makaure said intimidation is also on the rise, claiming village headmen were instructed by the local chief, Ishe Rukweza, to keep a watchful eye on opponents.

Despite police claims that they have put measures in place to ensure peaceful elections, reports from places like Mudzi West in Mashonaland East show that people have been forced to stay indoors following an orgy of violence unleashed by ruling party candidates.