Nyanga North under siege

After leaving his home in anticipation of hearing a briefing about the Constituency Development Fund from his MP, Douglas Mwonzora, little did he know he would end up abducted and tortured by Zanu (PF) thugs led by Hubert Nyanhongo. Nyanhongo who is a former senior army official, and is the Deputy Minister of Energy and Power Development, is reportedly eyeing the Nyanga North constituency, and using military tactics to ensure that he wins it. The area is currently represented in Parliament by MDC-Ts Douglas Mwonzora.

On the fateful day, Mwonzora had gathered about 500 people under a tree near a football pitch at Chatindo Primary School to brief them on the Constituency Development Fund. But Zanu (PF) militia, working under instructions from Nyanhongo, allegedly started pelting the crowd with stones saying they wanted to use the pitch for their social soccer match. There was pandemonium as the people at the meeting fought back and the fight moved to nearby shops where several windows were shattered.

During the mayhem, at gunpoint, Zanu (PF) militia abducted Chetsanga, Munyaradzi Zeta, Zondai Chipanga Manyanga, Gift Busiti and Obey Mwadiwa – all MDC-T supporters. It is alleged that they were taken to Nyanhongos homestead in Nyadowa and tortured.

We were severely beaten by the militia. They wanted to kill us. They were shouting to us that they were going to finish us all the MDC-T supporters one-by-one. They used gun butts, sjamboks, open hands and fists. We were almost dead. One of us Zondai Manyanga was unconscious, narrated Chetsanga.

We were released when other supporters threatened to block an ambulance that was carrying an injured Zanu (PF) member to Nyanga Hospital. We had difficulties in walking and up to now I am not yet fit. It was the worst experience of my life, he added.

Memory Gaza said: I have never seen such a thing in my life. If this violence is not solved amicably, then more blood is going to be shed. People are going to die. My husband, an MDC youth leader, survived death by the grace of God after our bedroom hut was set alight by Zanu (PF) supporters when he was asleep.

Webster Baipai is one of the victims of the violence bedevilling Nyanga North. He had his left eye gouged out with a blunt object at Nyakomba Business Centre and is reportedly recovering at Nyanga Hospital. Other victims have fled to Mozambique. Zanu (PF) supporters openly admit that they are outnumbered by MDC-T members in the area, making Nyanhongos fight for the constituency a desperate one.

Pishai Muchauraya, the MDC Manicaland spokesperson said villagers from the area continue to stream into neighbouring Mozambique and others areas. Militia are roving with guns, machetes, spear, knobkerries, iron bars and guns. They are still terrorising people and stealing from innocent civilians, Muchauraya said.

Hubert Nyanhongos vehicles, including a Nissan Hardbody ABD3740, a Mazda BT50 and a tipper lorry, were used by Zanu (PF) youths going house to house looking for MDC supporters. In surprising turn of events, Mwonzora is currently locked up at Mutare remand prison following allegations that he instigated violence in his constituency.

He is being held together with 24 other MDC activists who were also arrested by the partisan police. The group was granted bail last week by Nyanga Magistrate, Ignatio Mhene, but the state immediately invoked the controversial Section 121 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act (CPEA) to put aside the bail order. This draconian legal instrument is repeatedly used to keep MDC suspects behind bars.

The invocation of Section 121 of the CPEA, which suspends the bail order for suspects for seven days pending the filing of an appeal by the State in the High Court, has already been condemned by ZLHR which said such actions were malevolent and unjustified.

The Joint Monitoring Committee (Jomic) has started investigations into the violence that has rocked the constituency. Liaison officers from Zanu (PF), MDC-T and MDC were sent to Nyamakomba Business Centre on Friday 4 March 2011 where they were supposed to meet representatives from Zanu (PF) and MDC-T. However, the meeting failed to take place because most of the complainants were in remand prison. It has now been rescheduled for a later date when all the parties could be represented.

Mwonzora has since accused Nyanhongo of spearheading the violence. He also accused police in Nyamaropa of turning a blind eye to the violence because they are sympathetic to Nyanhongo. The MP wants Jomic to ensure that cases of insecurity and partisanship at Nyamaropa police camp to stop. Mwonzora is also demanding the arrest of youths who are linked to Nyanhongo whom he blames for kidnappings which he said were on the increase in Nyanga North. Jomic was set up to monitor the adherence to the Global Political Agreement(GPA), but critics say since it does not have any powers to force the parties to respect the agreement. Jomic officials say they send their recommendations to the principals in the unity government who decide on how to use them.