More killings reported in Manicaland & 7 bodies found in Epworth

By Violet Gonda
27 June 2008

The MDC says there was a low voter turnout in parts of Manicaland province, but that last night violence broke out in Headlands, Buhera North/Central and Chipinge constituencies, resulting in the deaths of several people.
We were not able to confirm these deaths with the police, but the MDC spokesperson for Manicaland, Pishai Muchauraya said it is the police themselves who have been transporting the bodies of the deceased to mortuaries.

Muchauraya said Samson Magumura, the MDC provincial youth organising secretary, was killed in the Headlands constituency by ZANU PF thugs. He said Magumura’s body was taken to Rusape mortuary. He also said that two couples were abducted and murdered, also in Headlands and another MDC couple in Ward 7 Makoni North were killed Thursday night.

He said he could not provide the names of all the deceased until he received permission from the families, because of the ongoing victimisation.
Meanwhile the MDC said there were real signs of defiance in Mutare on voting day. Muchauraya said he could only see polling agents and police officers when he went to polling stations like Baring and Chancellor primary schools – no voters.

There was a low voter turnout outside Mutare, in places like Makoni, Musikavanhu and Nyanga, although it’s reported that some people were being “helped” to vote by ZANU PF agents. In some instances there were reports that people were spoiling their votes by putting their “X” next to the names of both Morgan Tsvangirai and Robert Mugabe, and then writing “Mugabe must go” on the top.

Meanwhile Crisis in Zimbabwe issued a statement saying seven bodies of MDC activists were found in Epworth on Thursday.

Crisis said: “Since the defeat of Zanu PF on the 29th of March 2008, Epworth has been the hardest hit suburb. Zanu PF youth militias were frequently captured on camera pursuing MDC supporters and burning their homes.”

We have no further details at this time.