MDC activists still live in fear of violence in Mashonaland Central

By Tichaona Sibanda
30 October 2009

Thousands of MDC activists, in various districts of Mashonaland Central province, agree that a climate of violence still persists in Zimbabwe.

The MDC MP for Mazowe Central, Shepherd Mushonga, told SW Radio Africa that most of their supporters spoke unanimously of living in a state of ‘generalised fear.’

He said the recent disengagement of their party from ZANU PF exposed the emerging tensions between the two parties. The volatile province, which suffered the worst cases of murder, torture and displacements in 2008, appeared on the verge of another major escalation of political violence.

‘Hundreds of villagers in Chiweshe district last week fled to the mountains to seek refuge from the marauding ZANU PF militias. What we saw was a clear confirmation that the militias and war veterans are at war with unarmed and innocent civilians,’ Mushonga said.

Mushonga said there was sufficient evidence to prove that the rape of women and girls was also being extensively used as a means of political persecution. He said torture and other cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment are normal practices used by the militias during attacks on MDC supporters in the province.

‘People live in constant fear. We had the worst number of murder cases here and the militias usually return to remind the surviving relatives of the victims of the consequences of not supporting ZANU PF,’ Mushonga said.

When fresh violence erupted in Chiweshe last week, 50 homes belonging to known MDC supporters, were burnt down by ZANU PF militias. The disturbances were led by a well known district coordinating committee chairman named as Gatsi.

Additionally over 80 teachers fled the violence that erupted soon after the MDC disengaged from ZANU PF. Chiweshe lies about 60km north of Harare and is traditionally known as a ZANU PF stronghold.

Last year’s bloodshed in the province was spurred on by the fact that the MDC had many significant inroads, winning two parliamentary seats and countless district council wards, in a province known for declaring its unflinching support for Mugabe and his ZANU PF party.