Who are the men and women who have been elected to run the affairs of your country? What is their background? What do they stand for? This is the fifth in a series that takes a closer look at those in power in Zimbabwe today.Aquilinah Katsande : Mudzi West Constituency
MDC supporters in Mudzi district have terrible stories to tell about the brutality of this woman. They report that she orchestrated a reign of terror in the period April to June 2008, during which she was so thorough in her persecution of known MDC activist that she personally moved around the entire Mudzi district hunting for her quarry. She was present when most heart-rending punishments were meted out to MDC activists in her constituency.
At the height of the Presidential run-off campaign in 2008, her son George Katsande joined in the fray. He teamed up with the notorious thug Bramwell Katvsairo. On January 1, 2010 George Katsande roamed the area armed with a gun, following in the footsteps of his equally vicious mother. He led a group of assailants who attacked Bennizah Nyapfunde Mutize at Rukonde School in Mudzi. This group was reported to be very ruthless. They indiscriminately bashed Nyapfunde, even his children were not spared. George was reportedly accompanied by Asmore Simoko, Tichafa Kativhu, Josiah Nyamuda, Punzu Charles, Martin Mutaundi, Daniel Chitedega, Misheck Pengapenga, Dinga David, Solomon Chingwete, Tonde Chipwanya and four other unknown men.
There are reports that the group is now revisiting their victims at night and many MDC activists are sleeping in the bush and only going back to their homes in the morning. It is alleged by MDC supporters that Aquilinah, through her son George, is sponsoring this new wave of terror and that George has vowed to shoot all MDC supporters in Mudzi West.
Many of Aquilinah Katsandes victims have reported their cases to the police, but, despite evidence linking her to the horrible offences, she has remained untouchable and continues to sit in the house of assembly. She apparently has manifested a complete disregard of the GPA and appears determined to continue to maim and displace people with impunity, while the government she purports to represent solemnly preaches the gospel of national healing reconciliation and integration.
Some of the details of reported acts of politically motivated violence directly linked to Katsande are narrated below:
We have been granted authority by the president to kill MDC supporters
April 6, 2008
On 6 April 2008 Aquilinah Katsande and Peter Nyakuba the local Zanu (PF) councilor called for a rally at Bensen Mine where Katsande informed Zanu (PF) supporters that they should assault all MDC supporters who had campaigned for Morgan Tsvangirai in the March 29 elections. She added that, these beatings were meant to compel them to rejoin Zanu (PF), if any of the MDC supporters foolishly resist kill them all, we have been granted authority by the president to kill MDC supporters.
Immediately after this rally Zanu (PF) youths and war veterans went on the war path, many MDC supporters were brutally assaulted, homes were destroyed and livestock forcibly taken to feed comrades at the torture bases.
June 1, 2008
George Katsande and Tawanda Mazunze leading a gang of Zanu (PF) militia abducted Fianda Katiyo on June 1, 2008. They took him to Nyahondo torture base using a vehicle provided by Aquilinah Katsande. Katiyo was subjected to a terrible bout of torture throughout that night and was released the following morning. The group had worked him over so seriously that he was terribly frail and died a week after his release
Tafadzwa Meza was accused by the local Zanu (PF) militia of transporting MDC supporters to rallies using his pick up truck. Bramwell Katsvairo in the company of George Katsande and three unknown people looked for Tafadzwa and could not get him for several days.
They finally caught up with him at Nyamuyaruka Business centre near Kotwa on 1 June 2008. Tafadzwa tried to flee but Bramwell Katsvairo shot him in the leg.Tafadzwa jumped off his truck to hide under some bushes close by as it was getting dark probably hoping that the killers would not find him. George and the band of thugs set Mezas truck on fire and the resultant light from the flames betrayed Tafadzwas hiding spot. They dragged him to their vehicle then took him to the Broken bridge in the Nyamanyora Area, where Tafadzwas body was recovered the following morning.
Witnesses reported that George Katsande, using his mothers gun, shot Tafadzwa Meza at close range killing him instantly. George is reported to have boasted about his shooting skills for quite some time after Tafadzwa Mezas death and Aquilinah Katsande has used Tafadzwa Mezas death as an example at all her meetings in Mudzi. This led to Tafadzwas mother suffer a stroke in 2009 she however survived the stroke but has reported that she is always reminded of her sons death each time the Katsandes addresses a rally.
June 28, 2008
DK, an MDC ward official, was abducted from his home on 6 June 2008. He was bundled into Aquilinah Katsandes truck and taken to Nyamanyora base. There he was assaulted by Nyamaromo, Mangwende, George Katsande and other Zanu (PF) supporters. They kept on assaulting him for several days before releasing him, he never recovered from the injuries inflicted on him and passed away at his home on 28 June 2008.
July 5, 2008
On 5 July 2008 Aquilinah Katsande in the company of Peter Nyakuba caught up with Gwindiri Mutadza an MDC activist they had tried to capture before the 27th June elections but had failed. Witnesses say Gwindiri Mutadza had returned from hiding on the assumption that since the elections were now over the coast was clear. But Aquilinah and company descended on him in full view of all the people who had gathered at Chimukoko Business Centre. Aquilinah Katsande, Peter Nyakuba and assisted by two other unknown men heavily assaulted Gwindiri Mutadza with fists and booted feet. They bashed him all over the body. He died on the spot. On realizing that Gwindiri was dead, Aquilinah and gang jumped on to their double cab truck and sped off from the murder scene.
August 8, 2008
On August 8 Tambadzi Gombe, who was coming from a meeting that had been organized by Aquilinah Katsande, met Winnet Makaza whose name had been mentioned by Katsande as among MDC activists still on the wanted list.
Tambadzi accused Winnet of being an MDC supporter and started assaulting her with fists and booted feet. The assault was so severe that Winnet is reported to have screamed only once before she collapsed and died during the attack. Relatives reported the incident to the police but nothing was done. They did not even take the corpse to the mortuary. Tambadzi Gombe is still a free man in Makaza village. Aquilinah Katsande issued an order forcing the Makaza family to bury Winnet without delay or they would also meet with the same fate.
Post published in: Politics