Assaults on MDC officials and supporters intensified in the Chipinge area of Manicaland on Wednesday and Thursday, as ZANU PF continued its campaign of violence linked to the Constitutional outreach program. Provincial spokesperson and Makoni South MP, Pishayi Muchauraya, told SW Radio Africa that two MDC officials sustained broken limbs and MDC vehicles were attacked and vandalized by youth militia and CIO agents in separate attacks. The frustrated spokesperson talked about how their party will have to adopt defensive strategies to deal with ZANU PF violence and intimidation in all five districts of Chipinge.
Muchauraya said: “We as MDC are partly worried that it is not working as ZANU PF alone. It has militarized the war vets. It has militarized the militia. It has militarized some headman. It has militarized village chiefs, to make sure that everyone within their circles is viciously attacking MDC supporters. Our concern is that this state sponsored violence cannot go ahead alongside the constitution making exercise.”
On Wednesday in ward 4 Chipinge west, youth chairperson Tsvakeyi Muzhambi and two other MDC members were followed by ZANU PF thugs and CIO agents, armed with guns and sporting dark glasses. The group abandoned their car and ran for safety, but Muzhambi was cornered and assaulted severely.
Muchauraya said the youth official dislocated his leg and the other two MDC members escaped, but also sustained injuries. The ZANU PF thugs and CIO agents drove the car, then deflated all the tyres and stole some cash, food and tools that were left inside.
In another incident Wednesday in the same district, an MDC truck carrying the provincial youth organizing secretary, Dennis Manguva, was blocked from entering Clearwater Estate by militia alleged to be armed with AK 47’s. The assailants attacked the truck and villagers at the scene, threatening to kill them if they attended Constitutional meetings in the area.
On Thursday in Chipinge Central, the 48 year old district chairperson, Perpetua Pedzisayi, was assaulted by youth militia and CIO agents, led by Charles Jambaya and Temba Manaiwa. According to Muchauraya, they broke her right arm in front of many witnesses, but the police have made no arrests. The same gang assaulted a disabled teacher at a school in the area and broke his arm as well.
Asked whether the MDC would continue to take part in the constitution making exercise, Muchauraya said: “The MDC like any other party has got its structures. And unfortunately I am speaking at a provincial level. So what we are doing now is while we are forwarding these complaints to our head office in Harare, we are also going to take some defensive mechanisms to deal with this whole situation. And I know we are going to do it soon.”
Muchauraya explained that the MDC had suspended Constitutional outreach meetings on Wednesday after ZANU PF leaders forced the police to arrest a rapporteur who had been taking notes about the intimidation. He said the issue was resolved on Thursday after charges against the rapporteur were dropped and all parties met to discuss the way forward.

By SW radio