Zanu-PF youths wrecks havoc

As President Robert Mugabe, the Zanu-PF leader, was yesterday denouncing political violence in the country at the Independence Day celebrations at the National Sports Stadium; his youths were assaulting and harassing innocent people in Epworth just outside Harare.

One of those assaulted by the Zanu-PF youths is Samson Muripo Jnr, 29.  Muripo was seriously assaulted by known Zanu-PF youths in Epworth on Wednesday night because he had used his vehicle to ferry MDC members to the burial of the late Senator Tichaona Mudzingwa.

Muripo is an MDC Youth Assembly ward chairperson.

Senator Mudzingwa, the Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development died last week at the Avenues Clinic and was buried at Glen Forest Cemetery in Harare last Sunday.

According to Muripo, who had to seek medical attention, the Zanu-PF youths led by one Teddymore Chari approached him at Munyuki Shopping Centre and demanded to know why he had used his vehicle to ferry people to the burial of Senator Mudzingwa.

They then assaulted him with broken bottles and booted feet before they tried to handcuff him.  Muripo managed to escape with the handcuffs and made a report at Epworth Police Station.

A police request for medical report says Muripo "was hit by empty bottles on the head and stabbed by an object on the head and back."

Muripo said it was discovered at the police station that the handcuffs used by the Zanu-PF youths had been supplied by a police sergeant based at the police station.

No arrests have been made.