BULAWAYO - Violence has erupted in Mberengwa as former cabinet minister and Zanu (PF) Midlands chair July Moyo launched his bid to become a senator in the local by-election.The seat fell vacant following the death from diabetes of Richard Hove.
Although no dates have been set for the by-election by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), Moyo launched his campaign on Saturday at Mudzidzi primary school. It was from here that Zanu (PF), allegedly led by a senior party official, went on the rampage, forcing villagers from surrounding areas to attend the rally.
Last week, we spent sleepless nights again as [name withheld] and his group were forcing us to attend Moyos rally. Two days before the rally, we attended pungwe meetings where we were made to sing Chimurenga songs the whole night, said resident Danai Shumba.
Moyo, who was suspended as the Zanu provincial chair in 2005 for attending the controversial Tsholotsho in 2004, donated soccer kits to several primary schools in Mberengwa to, literally, kick off his campaign.
The mainstream MDC Mberengwa district chair, Edius Moyo, told The Zimbabwean that a day before the rally, about 15 Zanu youths raided his homestead and attacked his wife and three children.
Although I managed to escape, they beat up my pregnant wife Sonia and three children, demanding to know my whereabouts, said Edius Moyo.
Contacted for comment, the former minister said: Mberengwa is my home and I have a right to hold meetings with people there any time I feel like.
Post published in: Politics