MTOKO - Soldiers from 22 Infantry Battalion based at JOC Mtoko are on a manhunt for an MDC (Tsvangirai) truck.
Two lorryloads of soldiers besieged headman Vingidzai Kapondoros homestead on Saturday, after MDC (T) Mashonaland East Provincial Secretary for Security, Boniface Tagwireyi and Provincial Information and Publicity Secretary Silas Gweshe had left.
The soldiers laid military ambushes around the homestead throughout the night anticipating the return of the MDC officials.
We were surprised to learn that the army was hunting us down after we had peacefully visited headman Kapondoro. Several headmen have been MDC cardholders since 2000 and it is unconstitutional for Zanu (PF) to force them to support Mugabe, said Tagwireyi.
Earlier at Kotwa, more than 800 villagers forced to attend a Zanu (PF) rally bandoned the gathering after the MDC (T) truck arrived at the scene.
The guest speaker panicked and his microphone dropped off his hands on seeing a truck with MDC (T) insignia on the doors. Some participants whistled and clapped hands at MDC officials in the truck, said Tagwireyi.
They said Zanu (PF) officials at the meeting had told them that Tsvangirai and his MDC party were no longer a political movement but a small pressure group with operations restricted to Harare and a few urban centres. So, everybody had to turn Zanu (PF) and buy party membership cards. Overzealous Zanu youths later barred MDC officials from proceeding to some other villages, as they were causing confusion among villagers regarding making good political decisions.
Meanwhile, Tagwireyi called on MDC members not to be afraid of hollow Zanu (PF) intimidation.
People must not be intimidated by previous acts of violence by Zanu (PF). People must stand firm and be resolute in face of threats by Zanu (PF) as this time around it would be the end of Mugabe and his fading party. Forced buying of membership cards by Zanu (PF), is a criminal act… Thousands of villagers were forced to pay for the cards in advance and are yet to receive the membership cards. This is daylight robbery from the poor by Mugabes party, said Tagwireyi.
Tagwireyi and Gweshe met Mtoko law and order officers to express their concerns. Police claimed they were not aware of victimisation of MDC supporters and promised to investigate. They said political violence would be dealt with by the police when election dates were announced. Police called on people to be politically tolerant in light of the inclusive government.
Post published in: News