Zanu PF youth leader murdered

The Zimbabwe Peace Project has said in Chiwundura on March 19 Claudias Chikope a Zanu PF youth leader in Zaloba area was reportedly murdered in cold blood by Washington Mtetwa.

"The unfortunate and sad incident went viral on social media as a politically motivated incident. However, after visiting Zaloba and also speaking to the police who are investigating the murder, the facts are that a dispute ensued between the deceased and Mtetwa at a local bar when the latter accused Chikope of having an affair with his wife. The immediate circumstances surrounding the attack are therefore not politically motivated. Midlands Provincial Spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende confirmed that the matter was a domestic dispute and a man-hunt for the perpetrator is ongoing as are investigations," reported ZPP.

"The matter had been reported as Zanu PF supporters who had fought a over party candidates for primary elections. The suspect Mtetwa is still on the run. As the country goes for the 2018 elections the ZPP cautions against deliberate false alarm and politicisation of ordinary domestic and social disputes as this has the effect of unnecessarily heightening political tensions and potentially fueling more political violence. It is a fact that a murder remains a murder whether politically motivated or not but when tempers flare in political circles the results could mar the political environment around elections which the ZPP expects to be conducive for free, fair and credible elections."

"We continue to encourage citizens to report all cases of human rights violations, political and/ electoral violence to the Zimbabwe Republic Police, which has established a National Elections Command, and the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission. Citizens are also encouraged to alert the Zimbabwe Peace Project of any incidents in your area."