In Epworth, Prisca Dausi, the wife of slain MDC-T activist, Christopher Mashizha, was raped in 2009 by a Zanu (PF) activist identified as Gibson. He was later acquitted in court.
Christopher Mashizha was abducted in 2008 at the MDC-T party headquarters by alleged state security agents and his body was never recovered. The bodies of two of the people with whom Mashizha was abducted were later found near Ziko Business Centre in Seke.
“I am very afraid every time I see Gibson. He and his other colleague often take advantage of election time to commit crimes and justice does not take its course. We fear we are heading for a repeat of the June polls,” said Dausi.
What has worsened the situation in Epworth, according to sources, isthe re-emergence of torture bases that were used by Zanu (PF) youths in the June 2008 election. Another MDC-T activist from Epworth, who declined to be named for fear of victimization, said she was raped in June 2008 by known Zanu (PF) activists.
“I was raped at a base in Ward 2 by a group of Zanu (PF) activists: Tedmore, Moses, Collen and Masvingo. Some of my colleagues, Memory Shiriinorira, Catherine Gengezha and Catherine Mackena, were also raped but the men have not been arrested and they are still campaigning for Zanu (PF),” she said.
She identified other perpetrators of the June 2008 violence.
“In Ward 7, Makangira raped Mavis Alfius in 2008 and he has set up his base in the ward. Mkangira, Garaka and Brian also destroyed several houses belonging to MDC-T supporters and they were not arrested,” she said.
MDC-T spokesperson for Mashonaland East, Graham Nyahada, said known perpetrators of the 2008 violence had launched intimidation campaigns ahead of the elections.
“There are Zanu (PF) activists who murdered during the 2008 elections but escaped the long arm of the law and now they are at it again. Our supporters are now living in fear of a recurrence of the murders that took place in 2008. Some of the known Zanu (PF) activists include Nyika Musonza, Abraham Dongo, Majaira Gomwe, Wilson Dhakwa, Knowledge Matsika, Tichapiwa Marozva, Tendai Kuimba, Tanyaradzwa Gezi, Martin Chisango and Robsomn Marozva,” said Nyahada. “These people are now moving around villages threatening people.
We also have activists like Getrude Madokera and Fari Katsekete who are disabled but continue to receive threats from Zanu (PF) supporters.”
Member of Parliament for Zengeza East, Collin Gwiyo, said: “Most of the perpetrators of the human rights abuses of 2008 are still in my constituency. Those who were arrested were arrested on criminal charges and not cases related to what they did in 2008. Right now, we really do not know what they are planning, but their presence is a cause for concern.”
The Director of ZimRights, Okay Machisa, said the presence of murderers in communities ahead of elections was a kind of intimidation.
“If you get into an election and the people who committed serious human rights violations are still walking scot free, it will certainly intimidate the people. The issue of impunity has caused quite a lot of hurdles for free and fair elections in Zimbabwe,” said Machisa.
Post published in: News