At least five MDC activists were left injured, two of them seriously, on Monday night in a fresh wave of political violence to hit the capital city, Harare.The levels of political violence in the country are now causing increasing concern, with elections in Zimbabwe being discussed as possible for this year or early in 2012.
This latest incident was in the volatile suburb of Mbare, just a few kilometers from Harares central business district. A group of MDC supporters had gathered at the house of local councillor, Paul Gorekore, to help him clear rubble from his house that was attacked last week.
The councillors flat is situated at Tagarika block of flats, opposite the city of Harare office in Remembrance drive. The area is several hundred metres away from the Mbare police station.
Eyewitnesses told our correspondent Simon Muchemwa that as the MDC activists arrived at the flat they were set upon by local ZANU PF youths with rocks, bricks, iron bars and other weapons, forcing neighbours in the vicinity to flee.
One of the two activists received knife wounds and are both in hospital receiving treatment. The other three, all victims of the brutal attack including councilor Gorekore, are in police custody under arrest. Instead of going after the perpetrators, the police arrested the victims, Muchemwa said.
The MDC identified the activist who sustained knife wounds as Shingirai Gorekore, young brother to Paul. Tensions are so high in Mbare that even Theresa Mokone, the MDCs co-Minister of Home Affairs, felt unsafe after she visited the scene. She made a hasty retreat because members of the Chipangano were seen regrouping.
Muchemwa told us Makone was left speechless following the visit to the councillors flat, which was reduced to a shell.
There were rocks, bricks, iron bars and wooden pieces lying everywhere. The roof was shattered, doors smashed, windows broken and valuable household property destroyed and looted, Muchemwa said.
He added; The situation was very tense at the time Theresa Makone and members of the media visited the area. Neighbours locked themselves in their houses as ZANU PF youths were seen mobilising.
The MDC Youth League has meanwhile condemned the police inaction in protecting MDC supporters in Zimbabwe. The executive of the youth league convened an emergency meeting in the capital, following reports of the escalation of violence countrywide.
The league called for the disbanding of the Global Political Agreement and also lashed out at Makone and Kembo Mohadi, the co-Home Affairs Ministers, for their failure to protect MDC activists from the ZANU PF onslaught.
Post published in: News