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Retired general threatens villagers with war

Politics
MASVINGO — Retired Brigadier-General Livingstone Chineka yesterday threatened post-election war if Zanu PF loses in the harmonised polls set for tomorrow.

MASVINGO — Retired Brigadier-General Livingstone Chineka yesterday threatened post-election war if Zanu PF loses in the harmonised polls set for tomorrow. Chineka said former liberation war fighters would take up arms against the MDC-T if it wins.

Report by Tatenda Chitagu

Addressing hundreds of villagers who were reportedly force-marched and duped into believing that the meeting had been called by Chief Fortune Charumbira at Charumbira shopping centre, Chineka told the visibly frightened villagers that the former fighters were “never too old” to dislodge MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai from power if he beats arch-rival President Robert Mugabe.

“I went to war at the tender age of 16. I did not enjoy my adolescence period. Do you think I enjoyed it? We had no food, no healthcare, it was all problems,” Chineka said.

“Then you want to give the country back to the whites? No. The revolution is still on, the war continues. I may be old, but I know how to use a gun, I can load it and dismantle it. Even if I am old, I still know how to handle it, all those coming on my way will be gone,” he said, while chanting Zanu PF slogans.

Donning a cap emblazoned with Mugabe’s picture, Chineka also read a document which he alleged Zanu PF had intercepted from the MDC-T, showing its plans of returning farms to the whites and scuttle free tertiary education in Zimbabwe if elected into power.

MDC-T aspiring MP for the area Takanayi Mureyi and outgoing legislator Tichaona Chiminya Mharadze accused Zanu PF and Chineka of hijacking the rally which was called by the chief.

“Where is Chief Fortune Charumbira who called for this rally? I understand this should not be a Zanu PF rally, but the chief’s rally. This is also my area of origin, which is why I attended the rally. I know how this rally came about. Stop intimidating people,” Mureyi said, before being interjected by Zanu PF supporters who started sloganeering, leading to other MDC-T supporters breaking into song.

The rival supporters then engaged in a verbal altercation that went on for hours, but no physical violence broke out.

Sadc election observers also witnessed the incident.