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Zanu PF MPs implicated in Mudzi murder

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MUDZI — Two Zanu PF MPs, Milton Kachepa (Mudzi North) and Acquilina Katsande (Mudzi West), have been implicated in the violence that rocked the area last weekend, resulting in the death of MDC –T activist Cephas Magura. MDC-T youths yesterday told a visiting Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (Jomic) team the two Zanu PF MPs […]

MUDZI — Two Zanu PF MPs, Milton Kachepa (Mudzi North) and Acquilina Katsande (Mudzi West), have been implicated in the violence that rocked the area last weekend, resulting in the death of MDC –T activist Cephas Magura.

MDC-T youths yesterday told a visiting Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (Jomic) team the two Zanu PF MPs incited their party supporters to attack MDC-T members attending a rally at a local business centre.

The Jomic team, which comprised representatives from Zanu PF, MDC-T and MDC, was on a fact-finding mission following the violent clashes.

Steven Chiurayi represented Zanu PF’s Jomic member Ray Kaukonde while MDC was represented by Shupikai Mandaza and Pineal Denga represented MDC-T.

They were accompanied by police officers from Marondera.

The team met activists from Zanu PF and MDC-T parties at Chimukoko business centre where the murder took place, and later toured the late Magura’s home and Nyamapanda Police Station.

MDC-T youths who claimed to have witnessed the attack told Jomic that Kachepa’s pick-up truck car and Katsande’s Mazda T3500 truck were used to ferry Zanu PF youths who later attacked Magura and other MDC-T members at the business centre.

Taurai Kakore, MDC-T youth district information officer, said Kachepa bought beer for Zanu PF supporters on Friday night prior to the violent clashes.

Kakore further claimed Kachepa used his car to block vehicles carrying MDC-T supporters to Chimukoko business centre while Zanu PF councillor David Chimukoko ordered Zanu PF supporters to attack MDC-T supporters with stones.

Six Zanu PF activists have since been arrested over the incident and they are being held at Nyamapanda Police Station.

MDC-T supporters accused police of reacting slowly when they were called to stop the clashes.

Emmanuel Tawengwa, the MDC-T youth district organising secretary, said: “When the violence started at 10am, I asked a policeman standing next to me why they were not acting when people were being beaten and he told me that I could not tell him what to do. He later called reinforcements from Nyamapanda, Mutoko and Murehwa, but there was no response until midnight,” Tavengwa said.

Meanwhile, Magura is set to be buried on Saturday at his rural home in Botso village, Chief Goronga area in Mudzi North.