The political victimisation was championed by party thugs led by the local Zanu (PF) Member of Parliament, Aquiline Katsande. The victimisation did not only cost the family its livelihood, but also meant Mazarura’s three children missed school.
“It was during the night of August 27 this year when a mob of more than 50 Zanu (PF) supporters raided my homestead at Choto Village, Chief Nyamukoho area. This was after they had resolved at a party meeting held the previous day at Chimango Village that my family should be eliminated.
“The mob, reinforced by Mbare based Chipangano Youths, forced open the door to my bedroom and sang revolutionary songs and party slogans. Chipangano youths were ferried by George Katsande (Son to Legislator Aquiline Katsande) from Mbare in a family truck.
“Among the gang leaders besieging my homestead I positively identified Nyandoro Rwodzi (Zanu (PF) District Youth Chairperson), Ramson Mudapakati (Political Commissar), Chengetai Mapepa (Secretary for Youth), and Munyaradzi Mutero (Secretary for Youth) among others.
“Despite the door being broken, I told them that there was no way I could leave the house in the middle of the night. I later managed to sneak my wife and three children out of the house. As I tried to escape in the morning, the youths sprang out of the bush and chased me for several kilometres, shouting that the day of reckoning had come.
“I escaped but feared for the worst since I had experienced horrific incidents at the hands of the thugs before. I went into hiding with my family and then called on JOMIC to act.”
MDC Provincial Organiser and JOMIC official, Boniface Tagwireyi, said that the JOMIC would intervene.
“The JOMIC is prepared to meet all interested parties and preach political tolerance as prescribed by the non-violent resolution adopted by leadership of the three political parties in the GNU recently. Perpetrators of violence would be warned in no uncertain terms about the consequences which will follow continued violence,” said Tagwireyi.
He said JOMIC officials were expected to meet with the Mazarura family on Monday before visiting the area.
“JOMIC intended to deal with the case as a matter of urgency, but Zanu (PF) officials requested a postponement until after the party conference scheduled for Bulawayo next week.”
Mazarura said he would ask JOMIC to engage all stakeholders such as Chief Nyamukoho, village traditional leadership, war veterans, Zanu (PF) officials, MDC representatives and the District Administrator among other local senior government officials.
Post published in: News