MDC senator for Chimanimani and husband abducted at gunpoint

By Tichaona Sibanda
24 June 2008

Mayemureyi Munhuri, the MDC senator elect for Chimanimani and her husband, were abducted at gunpoint from their Gaza township home on Tuesday, according to the MDC.

Pishai Muchauraya the MDC MP elect for Makoni South, said Senator Munhuri was one of 33 other activists abducted in the province on Tuesday.

‘This is a worrying trend because we’ve seen an escalation of abductions of our members since we withdrew from the presidential race. Almost all of them have been abducted at gunpoint,’ Muchauraya said.

He said some of those abducted have been taken to police stations where they are being held against their will, but are not being charged with any offence.

Muchauraya said the regime has been trying to hoodwink people especially those in the rural areas, into believing that Tsvangirai was still in the election run-off, to try and legitimise the flawed process. Muchauraya said despite a media blackout on Tsvangirai’s withdrawal, they had managed to spread the word that their leader had withdrawn from the race.

‘As senile and mad as he is, Mugabe can go into this election telling people it’s a race between him and Tsvangirai. But only a fool can play a match without an opponent,’ Muchauraya said.