News / National
Zanu-PF resuscitate terror camps ahead of elections
25 Aug 2012 at 07:29hrs | Views
Zanu-PF youth militia have resuscitated three terror bases in Mashonaland West, where villagers are reportedly being harassed and intimidated if they do not attend Zanu-PF meetings.
According to a report by the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP), the terror bases are operational at Kazangarare Shopping Centre in Hurungwe East. The report released this week said that Zanu-PF militias are jogging every morning, "intimidating villagers with liberation war songs and reminding them of the 2008 election violence."
A ZPP monitor from the constituency reported that "the Zanu-PF youths are also assaulting people, who would have disembarked from buses at the centre, for not attending their daily meetings."
A local photographer and several other people were also reportedly injured following attacks from the Zanu-PF youths, who the ZPP said are led by Peter Madamombe, a suspected soldier, and Samson Kapesa.
The ZPP also said that two other terror bases have been reportedly set-up at Razor Shops and Kasora Business Centre. These bases are believed to be led by Dickson Munyoro and Luke Zinyenye respectively.
Phillip Pasirayi from the Centre for Community Development told SW Radio Africa on Friday that the terror bases form part of Zanu-PF's election campaign, with by-elections and a critical presidential poll expected in the near future.
He explained that similar reports are coming from across the country, with Zanu-PF groups leading an intensifying campaign of harassment against anyone perceived to be loyal to the MDC.
This includes a campaign of "patriotic education" led by war vet leader Jabulani Sibanda in Mashonaland province and ongoing harassment by the Zanu-PF aligned Chipangano gang in Harare.
The MDC-T recently said that Jabulani Sibanda was armed with a rifle and 'moving around Masvingo province forcing villagers to attend his meetings where he intimidates them into saying that they support Zanu-PF and threatening to skin them alive if they don't comply.'
"They are doing this ahead of elections and they are riding on the memory of 2008 to intimidate villagers, by saying 'if you still support MDC then you know what will happen'," Pasirayi explained.
He also warned that incidents like this are likely to increase closer to elections, because Zanu-PF has been allowed to act with total impunity.
"No one has been brought to book since the violence in 2008 so people are in fear and Zanu-PF is still instilling fear. They have been on the loose across the country and nothing is being done," Pasirayi said.
According to a report by the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP), the terror bases are operational at Kazangarare Shopping Centre in Hurungwe East. The report released this week said that Zanu-PF militias are jogging every morning, "intimidating villagers with liberation war songs and reminding them of the 2008 election violence."
A ZPP monitor from the constituency reported that "the Zanu-PF youths are also assaulting people, who would have disembarked from buses at the centre, for not attending their daily meetings."
A local photographer and several other people were also reportedly injured following attacks from the Zanu-PF youths, who the ZPP said are led by Peter Madamombe, a suspected soldier, and Samson Kapesa.
The ZPP also said that two other terror bases have been reportedly set-up at Razor Shops and Kasora Business Centre. These bases are believed to be led by Dickson Munyoro and Luke Zinyenye respectively.
Phillip Pasirayi from the Centre for Community Development told SW Radio Africa on Friday that the terror bases form part of Zanu-PF's election campaign, with by-elections and a critical presidential poll expected in the near future.
This includes a campaign of "patriotic education" led by war vet leader Jabulani Sibanda in Mashonaland province and ongoing harassment by the Zanu-PF aligned Chipangano gang in Harare.
The MDC-T recently said that Jabulani Sibanda was armed with a rifle and 'moving around Masvingo province forcing villagers to attend his meetings where he intimidates them into saying that they support Zanu-PF and threatening to skin them alive if they don't comply.'
"They are doing this ahead of elections and they are riding on the memory of 2008 to intimidate villagers, by saying 'if you still support MDC then you know what will happen'," Pasirayi explained.
He also warned that incidents like this are likely to increase closer to elections, because Zanu-PF has been allowed to act with total impunity.
"No one has been brought to book since the violence in 2008 so people are in fear and Zanu-PF is still instilling fear. They have been on the loose across the country and nothing is being done," Pasirayi said.
Source - swradio
