BURMA VALLEY - Zanu (PF) war veterans who were resettled under the infamous Robert Mugabe land grab in Burma Valley, and some Zanu (PF) youth militia have reportedly continued to harass MDC supporters in the area.
As a result of the continuing political violence, some MDC supporters have fled their homes while others have approached the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) and the MDC provincial leadership for recourse.
The war veterans and youth militia, led by a man called Manhando, have set up illegal bases while some members of uniformed forces and central intelligence have mounted roadblocks at Matondo business centre where they harass, assault and steal livestock belonging to MDC supporters.
The MDC councillor in the area, Peter Mukwecheni, said Manhando and a group of war veterans and some youth militia that under went national service training at the nearby Eagles Training Centre were responsible for the terror campaign in the area.
The villagers said the war veterans had set up semi-military bases at different locations across the area. The bases are situated at Matondo business centre, Tambawaguta in Chishakwe and Mazonwe.
Roadblocks manned by the uniformed forces and secret agents are also periodically setting up road blocks near the bases, whereat passengers in buses and motor vehicles are searched, ordered to chant Zanu (PF) slogans and, at times, beaten up, said Mukwecheni.
The councillor said that some war veterans under the instructions of Manhando last week allegedly abducted Farai Saburi who was drinking beer at Matondo business centre and severely beat him up. He was later released.
The war veterans are also said to have been demanding food from the villagers to feed themselves at their bases and as protection fees.
The harassments and beatings have also been extended to MDC ward officials in the area, while elected councillors have had travel restrictions in the area imposed upon them. Some MDC supporters have been forced out of their homes and continue to seek refuge elsewhere, added the MDC councillor.
In a previous interview with The Zimbabwean, the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWA) chairman, Jabulani Sibanda, denied that his members were responsible for any political violence.
I have always said we are not a violent organization, but there are some people out there who create stories in order to discredit our organization, said Sibanda.
The MDC has said all political parties should stick to the requirements of the Memorandum Of Understanding to take positive and visible action against those who instigate and perpetrate politically motivated violence within their rank and file.
Post published in: Politics