Recently, a gang of Zanu (PF) activists was reported to have abducted three MDC-T members. MDC-T National Executive Member, Shepherd Jack, an aspiring parliamentary candidate for Chegutu West, told The Zimbabwean that he was living in fear because of the heavy presence of CIO in the area.
“They are targeting MDC-T activists and we are always being trailed. With the elections early next years, it’s no longer safe to move around alone and at night. I have been getting strange calls from people with hidden identities threatening to harm my family,” said Jack.
He said Zanu (PF) supporters had been disturbing MDC-T activities by making their events coincide and taking over the venues. “Each time we want to hold a rally or any other party activity, they will appear at the same venue either to play soccer or to distribute maize to their supporters. This forces us to drop our activities. At times, when our rallies are approved, our supporters are intimidated or threatened before the event, forcing not to attend,” Jack said.
The Zimbabwean also interviewed Tichaona Gombindo (30), one of the trio that was abducted recently in Chegutu. He said he was ambushed together with Christon Banda and Masimba Madombwe by Zanu (PF) activists, while coming from a soccer match organised by MDC-T. “Everything happened so fast. As we were coming from the soccer field going to Gadzema Township, we were ordered to get into a white vehicle. We tried to resist but we were overpowered.
We were driven to a deserted compound, and then beaten and threatened with death if we continued to participate in MDC-T activities. The people beating us were from a local mine in Chegutu and they are Zanu (PF) supporters. They said they were using us to discourage other youths from supporting MDC-T. We spent two days at the base before we were dumped at the township,” he said.
Gombingo said they were still receiving treatment at a local hospital. Mashonaland West is a very volatile province where Zanu (PF) is reported to have deployed large numbers of youths trained at the now dormant Border Gezi youth militia camps.
Post published in: News