MDC Midlands province chairperson, Cephas Zimuti, said in an interview at the weekend that the soldiers working in cahoots with their Zanu (PF) militia in Gokwe and Chakari were forcing villagers to take part in indoctrination sessions.
He said they were forcing villagers to attend regular meetings at the torture bases where the crowd is continuously reminded about the June 27, 2008 Presidential run-off elections atrocities.
“This time they have dug a deep open cast which they are threatening to throw everyone suspected of opposing Zanu (PF), he said. We have our youths who were last week brutalized by scores of war veterans in Chakari at Patchway after they had been found wearing MDC T-shirts. One of the youths was seriously injured and we had to send him to Harare where he was treated at the Avenues clinic.
“What is disappointing is that we are reporting all these cases and the police seem not to take any action, and we are telling our people not to fight back because we are always a principled party which believes in non-violent activities,” said Zimuti.
A senior MDC National Council member who requested anonymity said he had written a letter to SADC and GPA facilitator, Jacob Zuma, complaining about continued violence by Zanu (PF) against MDC members.
“As the supreme party decision making body we recently appealed for SADC and facilitator’s interference in this matter because it is affecting us. We are waiting for their responses because to us it’s a matter which requires urgent attention, he said.
Co-Home Affairs Minister Giles Mutsekwa said intimidation was a serious offence and should not be tolerated.
“As you know the Zimbabwean police has a long history, and transforming it is going to take us some time. However, as the ministry we urge everyone who would have been intimidated to make formal reports and pursue the matter using existing structures so that justice is instituted, he said.
Post published in: News