MAKONI SOUTH Movement For Democratic Change (MDC) officials and relatives of a party activist Denford Tsvara who died in February this year from injuries sustained when he was tortured by the Zanu (PF) militia are demanding justice from the police.
The late Tsvara was tortured in the run up to controversial June 2008 Presidential election. The period saw an estimated 200 MDC supporters killed and thousand others displaced. None of the perpetrators of the violence that occurred during the period has been prosecuted by the police.
The culprits have been identified as two war veterans and a Zanu (PF) youth militia only identified as Gaba. Tsvara`s wife who was left in custody of three children following her husband`s death told The Zimbabwean that it was her wish to see the culprits who caused the death of her husband punished.
Justice should prevail and these culprits must be brought to book. No one has a right to kill. The wheels of justice should start rolling,she said. The MDC party said Tsvara, who was a programmes coordinator in the constituency, was kidnapped from his home in the middle of the night and severely assaulted and tortured by Zanu (PF) activists for supporting MDC. An MDC-T councillor, Dennis Gumunyu confirmed that Tsvara died from wounds sustained during beatings and torture.
We need justice because Tsvara was fit and active member before he was assaulted. He complained of chest pains and never recovered. His health deteriorated and we believe this led to his untimely death, said Gumunyu. Villagers in Makoni said they were living in fear that the culprits may unleash an orgy of violence against them ahead of a projected election next year.
We are living in fear because the same people who perpetrated violence in 2008 are moving around threatening and intimidating people.
They are boasting that they are untouchables and nothing will happen to them because they have protection from top Zanu (PF) politicians. They have been forcing people to attend their meetings, said Mike Mutandwa, a local villager. MDC-T controls Makoni South constituency after its candidate Weber Chinyadza wrestled the seat from Zanu (PF)`s Joseph Made in 2008.
Post published in: News