One of the eight MDC-T activists accused of beating up Zanu PF supporters in the run-up to the 2008 elections told the court yesterday they did so in self-defence after the latter had set up terror camps in their area from where they hunted down supporters of his party.
The eight — Cetshwayo Ncube, Lungisani Ndlovu, Jokona Mpofu, Kara Sibanda, John Ngwabi, Edgar Ncube, Victor Nyoni, and Robert Tshuma, all from Lupane — denied the political violence charges when they appeared before Lupane magistrate Takudzwa Gwazemba.
However, during cross examination, Tshuma eventually admitted to beating up the Zanu PF supporters, claiming they could no longer endure further torture by former ruling party supporters.
“We were under siege from Zanu PF who targeted all MDC-T supporters. We no longer had freedom and some of us had their homes burnt. We fought them to free ourselves from their continuous attack,” said Tshuma.
The MDC-T activists allegedly waylaid Zanu PF supporters who were coming from a campaign rally on June 21, 2008 and attacked them with axes, knobkerries, stones, logs and set dogs on them.
But some of the suspects claimed they were not at the alleged crime scene, Gomoza stream bridge in Lupane.
During cross examination, the MDC-T activists claimed several homes of their party supporters were burnt by Zanu PF youths in the run-up to the presidential run-off election in June 2008.
Two of the Zanu PF supporters were injured during the attack while some of them sustained minor injuries.
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When they were arrested in 2008, they initially appeared at the Hwange Magistrates’ Court. The case was recently transferred to Lupane for continuation.
The trial continues on December 16 with more witnesses expected to testify. Sanders Sibanda is prosecuting.
