HARARE - Francis Dengezi of Ngundu village, an MDC-T activist, died on October 14, 2009 and was buried the following day in the village. (Pictured: Perpetrators of violence during last years election period should be brought to book.)Dengezi was brutally assaulted by Zanu (PF) youths during the run up to June 2008 Presidential run-off elections. The man never recovered from the injuries he sustained during the brutal assault. His death was described as a great loss to the MDC-T.
People cannot talk of MDC-T in Murewa west Constituency without mentioning the likes of Francis, said a local villager.
Tawanda Dengezi, young brother to Francis, narrowly escaped death when three live gun shots were fired at him as he escaped the Zanu (PF) militia.
Family feud
The Dengezi family was targeted because the MDC-T district chairman, Simplsio Dengezi, comes from this family.
Among the people who attended Francis funeral, were the MDC-T provincial team including Chabvamuperu the provincial Chairman, Muzoda, Mhaka, Mazulu and others. Murewa west district executive team was also represented fully by the district vice chairman, vice secretary and others.
Each embarrassment, insult, difficulty, persecution you received drew you closer to MDC-T, and the closer you draw to MDC-T the more the partys breakthrough is being built up slowly but surely, said Matigari in his funeral address. Behind MDC-Ts situation lies Gods purpose. Our enemies may stand a better chance in the natural, considering their numbers and the instruments at their disposal, instruments of propaganda, campaign of calumny, intimidation, name calling, persecution but spiritually we are superior because we are on the Lords side.
Chabvamuperu acknowledged that Francis was a hero and deserved untold recognition.
Named and shamed
The Zanu (PF) youths who brutally assaulted Francis and other MDC-T activists in ward 14 and which are held responsible for the death of Francis and Edward Pfukwa include:
Mariki Israel Zanu (PF) Base Commander who sent youths to brutally assault MDC supporters.
Chingoriwo B – The kraal head who recruited youths and send them to the base.
Morgan Saidi – From Chanetsa village. He was and still he is the Zanu (PF) ward 14 youth chairman.
Shonhiwa Makarutse Ishmael – From Chidawaya village.
Tombindo Shepherd – From Chitsaga village.
Kandikita Zachariah – From Sande village.
Washayabuna Silas
At the funeral, people blamed the police for not taking any action to bring perpetrators of violence to book. Some said that some police officers committed serious crimes and hid behind Zanu (PF).
The mourners also highlighted the issue of the then-Musami ZRP Post Member in Charge, Assistant Inspector Chumwaya Joseph who received bribes from perpetrators of violence and let them go without charge.
They gave an example of Tecla Zvaitapasi and Chikwati Chingoriwo of Chikwati village who murdered Trust Tambo on December 25, 2008 at a social gathering and offered the police officer Chumwaya a cow. The police officer instructed them to turn the cow to liquid cash, Tecla and her accomplice complied and they were freed by Chumwaya.
Where have truth and justice gone in this country? asked one mourner.
The dead and dying
Francis is the second victim after Edward Pfukwa, who died from the brutal assault, Edward Pfukwa succumbed to the injuries he sustained from the brutal assault and died earlier. In ward 14 alone, the following people were brutally assaulted and are dying one after the other due to the injuries: Emmanuel Murwira, Edward Pfukwa- (deceased) , Raphael Meki, Francis Dengezi-(deceased), Bibiana Madzvimbo, Tawanda Dengezi, Euncis Mbadzo, Kenneth Baureni, Caroline Takamanya, Boniface Murwira, Prince Mafamba, Willard Kaseke, Memory Pfukwa, Onward Zvaitapasi, Zebron Mutamba, Kudzanayi Chatereza, Gabriel Chaitezvi, Shepherd Musakwa, Mai Gumbadya, George Mureverwi, Lucia Chatereza, Nofredge Marisa, Edinah Mutirirwa, Tafadzwa Mutirwara, Mai Marisa and Tendai Chitate.
Matigari said: We are in a situation where the robber calls the robbed robber, the murderer calls the murdered murderer and the wicked calls the righteous evil. The one uprooting evil is accused of planting evil. The seeker of truth and justice ends up in prisons. Those who sow good seeds are accused of sowing weeds. In our country Zimbabwe today, lies are decreed to be the truth, and the truth is decreed to be a lie. Theft and corruption have become the order of the day. This is what the Zanu (PF) people pride themselves on.
Post published in: Politics