Zanu PF militia attacks Makoni

                                                       By Vusimusi Moyo

Militias linked to Insiza Member of Parliament and Deputy Environment and Tourism Minister, Andrew Langa attacked Presidential aspirant Dr Simba Makoni's entourage as the independent candidate went about meeting people in the constituency.

Makoni's motorcade was ambushed on his way out of Filabusi and sources say one of his aides was detained and tortured before being released.

The militias laid another ambush when Makoni and his team were returning from the Midlands town of Zvishavane.

A report was filed at Filabusi police station where sources said no effort was made to arrest band of thugs who are mostly gold panners. Makoni's team was not available for comment.

Meanwhile Dr Makoni also took his campaign to Tsholotsho where he drew large crowds at the local business centre.

Dressed in khaki fatigues Dr Makoni needed a translator as he spoke in Shona to the on-lookers who mostly Ndebele and Kalanga.

The former finance minister and Zanu PF politburo member highlighted the economic benefits of removing his former colleagues from government and sought to dismiss charges by President Mugabe that he was a British puppet.

He also urged the crowd to vote for what he described as progressive candidates in the parliamentary and council elections citing former cabinet colleague Professor Jonathan Moyo who is seeking to retain his seat in the constituency.

Professor Moyo has however been dismissive of Makoni’s candidacy saying the concept of an independent candidate was unworkable in Zimbabwe.

Meanwhile, residents of this growth point expressed mixed feelings about Dr Makoni’s strategy.

Marian Phiri, a store-keeper said Zimbabwe may have found a messiah in Dr Makoni, describing him as the humble leader.

Some taxi rank touts said they would vote for Dr Makoni as long as he remained a friend of Tsholotsho's ‘first son’ Jonathan Moyo.

However, an old man who preferred to be called Brezhnev said for true communists like himself, Dr Makoni would remain an enemy because of his free market economic policies.