Villagers beaten for wearing red

In Chiweshe in Mashonaland east, villagers are being victimised for putting on red, which is the official colour of the main Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) faction led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. The Zanu (PF) party is allegedly using the infamous Green Bombers in the name of youth officers to identify MDC supporters and new faces in the areas, interrogating them before torturing them at their bases. MDC supporters, who spoke to The Zimbabwean, said they were now living in fear as the 2008 replica of violence appeared to have resurfaced.

We will see a replica of the 2008 violence this year as Zanu (PF) youth officers are re- introducing the violent strategies they used. These include identifying MDC supporters and trying to isolate them from the rest of the community and instil fear. We have seen a number of MDC supporters being summoned to the bases for putting on the MDC regalia or anything red, said a villager. About 12 MDC supporters died at Chaona in Chiweshe after being tortured during the 2008 violence. The Chiweshe violence report comes amid widespread reports that the violent revolutionary party has re-engaged its violent tactics countrywide in a bid to force the electorate to forcibly accept the Zanu (PF) favoured Kariba Draft, as the constitution of Zimbabwe.

The same situation is prevailing in Nyanga north where villagers are also living in perpetual fear. MDC-T Nyanga North legislator, who is also Parliaments constitution select committee co-chair, Douglas Mwonzora, confirmed the establishment of terror bases in his constituency. “I have personally seen the militia bases in my constituency and have told the police to dismantle them, Mwonzora told The Zimbabwean. The Kariba Draft constitution was agreed to by the three principals in the inclusive government, namely President Robert Mugabe of Zanu (PF), Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara of the two MDC factions. The Zanu (PF) party, however, is urging its supporters to endorse the draft as it is, while the two MDCs want people to add their views to make it a truly representative document.

“As the parliament constitution select committee co-chair, I am worried by these sad developments in the country. We are saying people’s opinions should not be manipulated at this crucial process, ” said Mwonzora. An MDC-T councilor David Sanhewe added: “We are aware that some youths are already being sponsored by Zanu (PF) to terrorise villagers. They are trying to manipulate the people not to freely contribute to this democratic process.” Its like we are approaching an election again, said the councillor. There is a base near Kazozo Primary School where some youths are camping while soldiers who were urging villagers to adopt the Kariba Draft constitution are still in the area.