ZANU-PF thugs hunting down MDC supporters in Chiredzi

By Tererai Karimakwenda
July 01, 2008

We received reports from Chiredzi and Zaka constituencies that
ZANU PF officials and militia have continued to assault innocent villagers, accusing them of voting for the MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai in the Presidential runoff elections. Chiredzi farmer and activist Gerry Whitehead said ZANU-PF youth militia have embarked on a witch hunt for 20 people at Mkwasine Estate, who they claim voted for Tsvangirai. Several people have been beaten and harassed.

Whitehead said Major Edward Msimeki and a war veteran named Mutemasango, are hunting for the Chiredzi South Parliamentary candidate Joseph Chirove. It is believed that they want to kill him for being the leader of the MDC in that area. The 2 also tried to abduct the councillor for Ward 15 Chiredzi, but he was lucky and escaped through his bedroom window.

The outspoken farmer said Lands officials, along with local A2 settlers, have now stolen 6 tractors and 2 cane loaders from the yard of his Engineering Company in Chiredzi. He reported this to the Chiredzi police but they said that they could not interfere. They referred him back to the Lands officials, who are the ones recruiting A2 settlers and looting from the farms.

Whitehead said: “This is daylight robbery and there is not a thing I can do about it.”

A group of about 12 MDC officials who were forced to go into hiding and have lost their jobs, passed through the Chiredzi area this week. They told local MDC officials that they do not have any means to survive while they are fleeing from state sponsored violence.

Many MDC officials and supporters have been victimised in ways that are not being documented. The party is struggling to assist as many of them as possible, but they say they are overwhelmed and in need of some assistance as well.