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July 2011 Vol 35, National News

Violence escalates in Midlands

By The Zimbabwean   Mon, Aug 08, 2011

Midlands province recorded the highest number of political violence cases in the past two months, the latest report by the Zimbabwe Peace Project has revealed.

In June the province recorded 214 politically motivated cases of assault, harassment and intimidation out of 1 014 cases recorded countrywide.

Though most violence was against MDC supporters, the report also notes that there was intra-party violence within the Zanu (PF), caused by the leadership of the party which accuses some of its MPs of supporting the MDC.

Addressing thousands of party supporters at a peace rally at Mbizo Stadium in Kwekwe recently, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa is behind the violence.

“The reason why Midlands is recording very high incidents of political violence is because Mnangagwa’s culture is of violence,” said the PM.

In the past Kwekwe Central MP, Blessing Chebundo, had his house burnt by suspected Zanu (PF) supporters. MDC supporter Moses Chokuda was also killed by suspected Zanu (PF)’s Midlands Chairperson and Governor Jaison Machaya’s son together with others. The case is before the courts in Gokwe.

By The Zimbabwean

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