MDC supporters homes torched as Pope dines with Mugabe

Noel Musere – branch chairman

Martin Muchawaya – district chairman

Bhobho Mangoma – a youth

Naume Chavhi – branch chairwoman

Gift Musere – a youth

Peter Mushambi – a headman

Thomas Chibhamu – a youth

Edward Majoka – vice chairman

Steven Chieza – district secretary

Zivhu a youth

MUTARE – Seven MDC supporters in Cashel Valleys Nyambeya area under chief Mutambara are now homeless after their homesteads were razed by suspected Zanu (PF) supporters early last Sunday morning.

Some of the family members are seeking refuge at the partys offices in Mutare, while the whereabouts of the others are still unknown.

Apparently these families were last month attacked by the same Zanu (PF) activists. One of the affected family members, Zviitei Simango, said they were attacked soon after midnight. She said the assailants tied her hands and beat her using electric cords.

Simango, a mother of two, said she was attacked together with her mother in-law and aunties in front of their children. They were accusing us of reporting them for beating us last month, they threatened to rape us. They took away our cell phones, said Simango.

The also took all their clothes and identification particulars, as well as radios, solar convertors and chickens.

The assailants were identified as Smart Majoka, Zanu (PF’s) ward security chairperson, Noel Musere branch chairman, Martin Muchawaya district chairman, Bhobho Mangoma a youth, Naume Chavhi branch chairlady, Gift Musere a youth, Peter Mushambi a headman in the area, Thomas Chibhamu a youth, Edward Majoka vice chairman district, Steven Chieza district secretary and a youth only identified as Zivhu.

Simango said they made a police report at Cashel Valley Police Station and the police visited all the homesteads that were torched and promised to carry out investigations.

The villagers were sneaked away in a police vehicle.

If we had not left with the police I dont know what would have happened to us because they had threatened to kill us, said Simango.

Moses Chemwanyisa, MDC-T ward one chairman, said he got a call from his wife while he was attending the MDC-T annual congress in Bulawayo that their house had been set on fire by Zanu (PF) supporters and everything had been destroyed.

My wife managed to escape but this did not stop them from setting my homestead on fire, said Chemwanyisa, adding that Zanu (PF) supporters have vowed to get rid of all MDC supporters in Nyambeya area.

They are saying that Nyambeya area is their area and no MDC supporters should not be staying in that area, said Chemwanyisa.

MDC-T youth chairperson in the area, Admire Chizikani, said he lost all his household property in the fire. The investigating officer at Cashel Police Station, Sergeant Hapawori, refused to comment on the matter and referred all questions to Manicaland provincial headquarters.

The Acting provincial spokesman Assistant Inspector Chab- Radio VOP