'Zanu-PF are Satan's agents'

Zanu PF is a "Satanic" party that thrives on the suffering of ordinary Zimbabweans whose social lives have been reduced to ashes by the party in government, an MDC-T top official has said.

Abednico Bhebhe, the party's national organising secretary, told party supporters in Epworth last week that the reluctance by government to address problems that have devastated the lives of the people of this country was evident of the revolutionary party's "Satanism".

"Our difference with Zanu PF is that we don't lie. Zanu PF is Satanic; they are Satan's agents. They rape, kill and assault people. I am not going to say much today, but I will come back and speak to exorcise the Zanu PF demon of witchcraft here in Epworth," Bhebhe said.

The party's supporters in Epworth had earlier told party leader Morgan Tsvangirai that they were being treated as second-class citizens by police and council officials in the area. For instance, they were made to pay $200 for a grave of a loved one while Zanu PF supporters paid just $10.

"If we go to the police station, they say they don't recognise us. If we report Zanu PF settlers to the police, they say they don't know us and do not recognise us so they can't come to help, but if Zanu PF supporters report us, suddenly they know where to get us," said Sengi Chari, an activist in the area.

Tsvangirai came face to face with the level of paranoia within government institutions when a senior nurse at a local hospital openly declined to have pictures of her with the former Premier taken out of fear. She would also not provide the former Premier with basic information on the state of the clinic or say what the most common ailment in the populous suburb was.

"Please don't take pictures of me. I will be in trouble with my bosses. We are not allowed to talk to you without the approval from my superiors," the senior nurse said.

Tsvangirai tried to convince her that there was no harm in talking to him as he had the right to know what was going on, but the nurse remained adamant, saying it was not possible for her to give him the information that he wanted.

Tsvangirai and his team, that also included the party standing committee members, Douglas Mwonzora and Chalton Hwende among others, left the clinic without getting the information they required.

MDC-T supporters also recounted the horror they witnessed ahead of previous elections, saying there was violence, rape cases and torture of party supporters by their Zanu PF counterparts.