ZANU PF Torch MDC Supporters' Homes

ZANU PF continues to target MDC supporters, activists and members, and in typical ZANU PF fashion, they seem happy enough not just to pick on the people, but to destroy their property as well.

This was seen as well during the landgrab, when ZANU PF destroyed home, barns, farm equipment and crops. We have to remember that Mugabe told the world that the landgrab was to correct the land tenure imbalance caused by colonialism.

If that was so, then why was there the need, want, desire to destroy what they wanted from the start? Many of the farms now lie unused, unworked and fallow, the basics of the farms destroyed and money is needed to rebuild them into productive structures.

But, for ZANU PF, the job is done, having evicted the 'bloody whites'... (Mugabe's words, not mine.)

zimbabwe arson Lb4KS 16744

"Seven Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) supporters in Cashel Valley's Nyambeya area under chief Mutambara are now homeless after their homesteads were razed down by suspected ZANU PF supporters early Sunday morning.

Some of the family members are now seeking refuge at MDC-T offices in Mutare while the whereabouts of the others are still unknown.

Apparently these families were last month attacked by the same ZANU PF activists. One of the affected family members, Zviitei Simango, said they were attacked soon after midnight. She said the assailants tied her hands and beat her using electric cords.

"They tied my hands and started to beat me up with electric cords," said Simango a mother of two. She was attacked together with her mother in-law and aunties in front of their children. "They were accusing us of reporting them for beating us last month, they threatened to rape us. They took away our cell phones," said Simango.

Simango said they took all their clothes and identification particulars. She said they also took away radios, solar converters and even chickens were not spared.

The assailants were identified as Smart Majoka, ZANU PF's ward security chairperson, Noel Musere branch chairman, Martin Muchawaya district chairman, Bhobho Mangoma a youth, Naume Chavhi branch chairlady, Gift Musere a youth, Peter Mushambi a headman in the area, Thomas Chibhamu a youth, Edward Majoka vice chairman district, Steven Chieza district secretary and a youth only identified as Zivhu.

Simango said they made a police report at Cashel Valley Police Station and the police visited all the homesteads that were torched and said they will carry out investigations.

Simango said they sneaked away from the village using the police vehicle.

"If we had not left with the police I don’t know what would have happened to us because they had threatened to kill us," said Simango."

And, as we have come to realise, the police will not conduct an investigations, the identified people will not be questioned and within a few days the case will be closed NSND (No Suspect No Docket). The affected people will be left to try and rebuild their lives wherever they can, but they are very aware that they are now marked by ZANU PF as targets.

"Moses Chemwanyisa, MDC-T ward one chairman, said he got a call from his wife while he was attending the just ended MDC-T annual congress in Bulawayo that their house had been set on fire by ZANU PF supporters and everything had been destroyed.

"My wife managed to escape but this did not stop them from setting my homestead on fire," said Chemwanyisa.

Chemwanyisa said the ZANU PF supporters have vowed to get rid of all MDC supporters in Nyambeya area.

"They are saying that Nyambeya area is their area and no MDC supporters should be staying in that area," said Chemwanyisa.

MDC-T youth chairperson in the area, Admire Chizikani, said he lost all his household property in the fire.

The investigating officer at Cashel Police Station sergeant Hapawori refused to comment on the matter and referred all questions to Manicaland provincial headquarters.

The Acting provincial spokesman Assistant Inspector Chabata said he was in Bulawayo for the Trade Fair and will be back in office next week."

In other words, the police are not particularly interested.

The crimes committed are assault, theft, arson - and I can almost guarantee that the police will take no further action, as they do not believe that a crime can be committed against the MDC…

Robb WJ Ellis

The Bearded Man