MDC forms defence units to protect themselves from attack

By Tichaona Sibanda
16 May 2008

The MDC in Manicaland province has formed ward based defence units to protect themselves from attacks led by Zanu-PF militias, war vets and members of the armed forces.

David Chimhini, the MDC MP elect for Mutasa North, said traditional leaders, headmen and councillors are leading the defence units. Parts of Manicaland province have suffered the worst cases of post-election violence, after the MDC made major inroads into the province in the election.

Apart from claiming 20 parliamentary seats out of 26 and five out of six senatorial seats, the MDC will also control the majority of local council authorities in many of the towns.

‘We have decided to come together as people of Manicaland, to unite and identify outside forces who come to cause trouble here. This project has the support of local Zanu-PF supporters who are also sick and tired of violence against innocent civilians,’ Chimhini said.

Chimhini explained the defence units will not hit back against any perpetrators of violence. ‘Elections come and go, but if you kill a person it sticks on you for good. Once we hear there is a group out there to cause trouble we will group in very big numbers and this will act as a deterrent to the trouble makers,’ Chimhini added.

The MDC has already rolled out plans to identify victims of violence who need help to go back to their rural homes. Hundreds of MDC activists were displaced in the early days of violence in Manicaland. Many of them fled to the party’s provincial offices to seek refuge.

‘In the coming weeks we will be working with our party structures to ensure that we help all those who want to go back to their homes. The majority of them have been away from weeks and they insist they want to go back to their wards to ensure they vote in the second round of the presidential poll,’ Chimhini added.