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2008 violence haunts Zanu PF supporters

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THE High Court has ordered seven Zanu PF activists in Wedza and Muzarabani to pay a combined $11 000 compensation to MDC-T members they tortured in the run-up to the June 2008 elections.

THE High Court has ordered seven Zanu PF activists in Wedza and Muzarabani to pay a combined $11 000 compensation to MDC-T members they tortured in the run-up to the June 2008 elections.

BY CHARLES LAITON

Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo made the default judgment last week after the ruling party members failed to turn up and defend their case at the High Court.

In the first case, Komboyani Mudyanevana was ordered to pay $8 000 compensation for severely assaulting MDC-T activist Grace Munodawafa at a Zanu PF torture camp at Zana 2 School in Wedza on June 25 2008.

According to Munodawafa, on June 25 2008 at around 3pm, she was approached by Mudyanevana and his colleagues, whose identities and further particulars were unknown to her.

They were wielding sticks and ordered her to attend a Zanu PF meeting at the school grounds.

While at the grounds, she claimed a list of other suspected MDC-T members was read out and her name was also included.

She said Mudyanevana and his colleagues whisked her to another Zanu PF campaign base whereupon arrival, she was ordered to lie flat on the ground and was beaten several times with a thick stick on her backside while one of his counterparts was standing on her shoulders.

“As a result, I sustained numerous injuries on my buttocks and suffered excruciating pain on my shoulders. This was exacerbated by the fact that they barred me from seeking medical attention and they threatened me if I attempted to do so,” Munodawafa said. She was represented by Kenias Shonhai.

Another MDC activist James Nyama had a $3 000 default judgment entered in his favour against six Zanu PF activists — namely Bitu Mazhuwana, Pearson Chashaya, Edmore Chiworeso, Jonah Didimu, Owen Sosono, and Levison Kashiri — all of Charumba village, under Chief Kasekete in Muzabarani.

According to Nyama, the six men stormed his home on May 2 2008 and started throwing stones at his his family members, accusing them of being MDC-T supporters.

The court heard Nyama and his family fled their home to the nearby bushes and watched helplessly as it was being destroyed.

“They accused me of being an MDC supporter and that was their reason for destroying my home. The respondents threw large stones which broke the roofing and windows and subsequently the property inside,” Nyama said in his affidavit.

Nyama was represented by Michelle Matsvaire.