SEVEN MDC-T activists were yesterday attacked and injured by suspected Zanu PF supporters in Chitungwiza, a day after President Robert Mugabe addressed a rally in the dormitory town, preaching peace.
REPORT BY STAFF REPORTER
The assaults took place at a housing co-operative established by Zanu PF parliamentary aspirant Christopher Chigumba.
The MDC-T activists had gone to the area to put up campaign posters and distribute fliers of their party.
The injured were identified as provincial party members Verina Muchegu and Sherry Nyika as well as Laiza Mapepa, Edmore Maviza, Lloyd Goredema, Martin Mandizadza and another female activist whose name could not be immediately established.
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Maviza’s police record report book number gleaned by NewsDay, read in part: “Complainant was assaulted by several Zanu PF activists and sustained injuries all over the body and he is serious (sic).”
MDC-T aspiring legislator for the area Canisio Makaruru, who was reportedly accompanying the activists, slammed the attacks, saying the incident trashed Mugabe’s peace calls or demonstrated lack of sincerity on the part of the President and his supporters.
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“We were just on our visibility programe, putting up our posters on trees and public buildings. Although in the past Zanu PF has declared the territory a no-go area for non-Zanu PF members, we decided to move in on the strength of calls by President Mugabe for peaceful campaigns,” Makaruru said.
Two of the assaulted activists, Mapepa and Maviza, were still admitted at a local hospital by last night while others had been discharged.
The incident was reported at Makoni Police Station and, according to some of the MDC-T activists, police moved into the area and had, as of yesterday evening, arrested two of the perpetrators of the political violence.
Efforts to get comment from national police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba were unsuccessful up to the time of going to print last night.
