BY CHIEF REPORTER
MUTARE
Air Marshal Perence Shiri, the head of the Zimbabwe Air Force, is directing a terror campaign in Manicaland whose carnage so far involves seven shut-down schools, smoldering huts, hundreds internally displaced and at least three killed.
Reports from Manicaland this week spoke of a door-to-door campaign by marauding Zanu (PF) thugs, war veterans and troops, other gun-toting troops lounging around bars and shops, in the villages and at schools, spearheading a purge of the province of all MDC activists.
Shiri, who has taken temporary residence in Manicaland, where he is booked in at the serene La Rochelle Gardens in Penhalonga, is commanding the joint operation that also involves senior police and army officials.
The teams deployed across Manicaland have been mandated with ensuring that Mugabe wins the impending presidential election run off by any means necessary.
This is not the first time that Shiri has been called to defend Mugabe against threats to his rule.
Shortly after independence in 1980, Shiri was chosen to head the notorious Fifth Brigade of the Zimbabwean National Army which, between 1982 and 1987, slaughtered up to 20,000 men, women and children in Matabeleland, the area of the country populated by the Ndebele people.
He is now in charge of “operations” in Manicaland, a province which voted overwhelmingly against Zanu (PF) in the March 29 poll. Senior Zanu (PF) officials suffered their heaviest losses in Manicaland, where former ministers such as Joseph Made, Patrick Chinamasa, Oppah Muchinguri, Chris Mushowe and former deputy Speaker Kumbirai Kangai lost their seats.
The province also voted overwhelmingly against Mugabe, according to voting figures, reflecting a massive shift in allegiance from a province that has loyally supported Zanu (PF) and Mugabe to MDC and its leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
The deployed troops and the Zanu (PF) militia are beating hard on the drums of confrontation, taking on all opponents of Mugabe and Zanu (PF) that pose a threat to the veteran ruler’s electoral victory in the crunch run off.
Two-week long investigations have revealed that the operation is being spearheaded by Retired Brigadier Zambara in Mutasa Central, Colonel Masamvu in Nyanga, and Col Romeo Machinguma in Makoni West.
There is also Col Matuvhunye and Brigadier Mandama, jointly heading operations in Musikavanhu; Col Morgan Mzilikazi in Buhera, and the former Harare Central Law and Order chief, Senior Assistant Commissioner Musarashana Mavhunda, heading the Chipinge operation. Mabhunda is ironically a member of the ZAOGA church, yet he is notorious for torturing opposition activists.
The Zimbabwean heard that by far the most gruesome of these teams is the one assigned to Makoni South. This team comprises former CIO boss Shadreck Chipanga, Senior Assistant Commissioner Pfumvuti and Wing Commander Mandeya.
In Makoni South seven schools have been shutdown over the past one week by the terror troops after headmasters and teachers were first manhandled by the goon squad.
The Zimbabwean can reveal that in Makoni South, Chakuma Priimary School has been shut down. The headmaster, Jethro Manyani was first assaulted on allegations he was an MDC activist and then forced to shut the school and flee.
Pupils have missed class since last week. Chikobvore Primary School has also been shut down and the headmaster, only identified as Duma, beaten up. Teacher Chipadzwa’s car has also been burnt by the terror squad loyal to Mugabe.
Other schools that have been shut down in Makoni South by the Zanu (PF) terror troops include Mutungagore Secondary School, Zambuko Primary School, Handina Secondary School, Makumba Secondary School and Zembera Primary School.
Across the provinces, violence has escalated sharply.
The newly-elected MDC MP for Mutasa Central, Trevor Saruwaka remained in police custody on Tuesday following his arrest on Monday after visiting Penhalonga Police Station to inquire about the arrest of an MDC activist.
The activist had been abducted by war veterans and soldiers because he was wearing an MDC T-shirt, brutalised, before he was handed to the police.
When the new area MP Saruwaka visited the police station inquiring about the MDC youth’s whereabouts, the member-in-charge, Assistant Inspector Goronga, was ordered by Col Masamvu to detain the legislator on charges of inciting violence.
“We now have a situation where people sleep out in the open because they fear spending the night at their homes,” said Reverend Stephen Maengamhuru, the regional official from human rights group ZimRights.
MDC Manicaland spokesman Pishai Muchauraya told The Zimbabwean that the level of brutality was shocking and said people were fleeing their homes in numbers.
“It’s a big problem we are having,” he said. “It’s a campaign of retribution.”
Across the Mozambican border, officials are struggling to cope with the huge number of people fleeing the violence.
“There is a massive exodus of Zimbabweans going into Mozambique,” Mozambican immigration official Boste Marizane told journalists in Manica Town, about 25km east of Mutare. “What is happening is that these days there are lots of people crossing to Mozambique who do not return,” he said.Â
Post published in: News