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Zanu PF youths torch TZ activist’s house

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SUSPECTED Zanu PF youths allegedly torched a house belonging to a Transform Zimbabwe (TZ) activist Kudzanai Gondo, who stood and lost in Mbire by-elections in September last year.

SUSPECTED Zanu PF youths allegedly torched a house belonging to a Transform Zimbabwe (TZ) activist Kudzanai Gondo, who stood and lost in Mbire by-elections in September last year.

BY OBEY MANAYITI

Gondo told NewsDay yesterday that his house in Hambe village in Mbire was razed down last Saturday and he had temporarily moved his family to Mt Darwin as he seeks alternative shelter.

The TZ activist claimed Zanu PF militias have been sending threatening messages to him for standing against the Zanu PF candidate in the by-election. Mbire constituency was left vacant following the expulsion of David Butau from Zanu PF for allegedly working with ousted former Vice-President Joice Mujuru in trying to topple President Robert Mugabe.

The elections were won by Zanu PF’s Douglas Karoro.

“I was being threatened by the militias who did not want me to contest in the by-elections. After the polls they continued with the threats until I decided to briefly seek refuge in Harare,” Gondo said.

“I returned home in December and on January 16 as I was away, I received a call that my house was on fire while my wife and five children were in the fields. I made a police report, but nothing was done.”

Gondo condemned politically-motivated violence.

National police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said she had not yet received such a report.

While addressing thousands of Zanu PF supporters in Rushinga in October last year, First Lady Grace Mugabe declared Mashonaland Central a no-go area for opposition parties. TZ said it investigated the recent violence against its losing Mbire candidate.

“We will stand firm as a party on the ground and we denounce such violent acts. It’s very barbaric on the part of Zanu PF. Today’s politics calls for reasoning, interaction with the people, peace and principle and not violence,” acting party spokesperson Tangai Roddy Takaruza said.

“It’s not the time for people to be forced into things they do not subscribe to. People should be free to choose a party of their choice. However, we will not be intimidated by such issues. We will continue mobilising and fighting to bring perpetrators of violence to book.”