Five people are killed as violence errupts in Mutoko       14/04/2008 22:12

                                                              Staff Reporter

Cases of post election violence are on the increase with highest cases recorded in Mutoko North East of Harare where five people have been reported dead, and several supporters for the Tsvangirai led Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) were been beaten up and their houses torched in the aftermath of the March 29 elections.

Recorded cases also indicate that at least 20 MDC supporters are admitted at the Avenues Clinic in Harare after sustaining injuries allegedly perpetrated by ZANU PF supporters.

In an interview with ZimEye, the losing MDC candidate for Mutoko South constituency Silas Gweshe said ZANU PF militias and war veterans are terrorising villagers mostly MDC supporters.

Their crime is the open support they gave to MDC despite losing the seat to ZANU PF.

Gweshe said several people have fled from their homes and sought shelter at Mutoko centre.

“Most people who openly campaigned for MDC during the run up to the elections have fled their homes. A number of families have sought shelter at Mutoko centre and are living in the open. The police have not been helpful and in all cases that we have reported they have turned a blind eye saying they cannot intervene in politically motivated cases,” Gweshe said.

No comment could be obtained from the police to confirm any reports of cases recorded so far.

The 2000 orgy of violence is slowly returning where areas such as Mutoko witnessed brutal cases against opposition supporters.

Gweshe’s campaign manager in the 2008 parliamentary election Mapango Mapengo of Nyamuzizi village was kidnapped over the weekend and his whereabouts are not yet known.

“My campaign manager was kidnapped on Saturday and his car was burnt down. His homestead was also torched and his parents were beaten up. I do not even know where he is right now and what the kidnappers are doing with him,” Gweshe said.

The gang which is terrorising villagers is allegedly being led by an Assistant Police Commissioner Pfumvuti and Bornwell Katsvairo a serving officer in the Airforce of Zimbabwe

The two are said to be claiming to be working for the president’s office.

Violence cases are confirming fears that have been expressed by the opposition in the event of a run off which the ruling party ZANU PF is pushing for in an election that MDC Tsvangirai led faction has claimed victory for the presidential poll.

Addressing a news conference in Harare, MDC vice president Thokozani Khupe confirmed the increase in the cases of violence and one supporter died in Hurungwe West constituency on Saturday.

“We are sad to inform you that we have lost one of our members Tapiwa Mubwanda of Hurungwe West who passed away on Saturday after being stabbed by ZANU PF supporters at his homestead in Mhereyenyoka,” Khupe said.

In another incident in Gokwe, a suspected member of the CIO identified as Amos Jaravaza shot Munyekeni Ganye on both legs.

Ganye was admitted at Gokwe hospital were his condition is reported to be critical.