The mob pelted the T-35 truck with stones, injuring the passengers who were on their way to Nhakiwa Business Centre for an MDC rally. Makaranga was taken to Nhakiwa clinic, but was denied assistance because the nurses were afraid of the backlash from the Zanu (PF) militia. The attack was allegedly engineered by a Zanu (PF) youth chairman, who is in charge of militia bases at Katiyo, Mashambanhaka, Mtawatawa, Nhakiwa and Rukariro. The matter was reported to the police at Mtawatawa and given the crime number 0539068. The deputy minister of information and publicity, Jameson Timba, who was at the rally, condemned the attack.
Primitive and barbaric politics of the knobkerrie are pursued by those parties who have nothing to offer to the people, Timba said. Timba met with Assistant Inspector Dzvetere of Mtawatawa police station, who assured him that the identified culprits would be brought to book. Two men were arrested in connection with incident, but local people feared the culprits would soon be released. A Zanu youth listed names of MDC supporters who attended the rally, and supporters went home in fear for their lives, believing that attackers would be waiting for them.