News / National
Savage attack of MDC-T MP condemned
25 Apr 2015 at 10:33hrs | Views
Heal Zimbabwe Trust (HZT), an NGO promoting peaceful co-existence, has condemned yesterday's attack on MDC-T MP for Budiriro, Costa Machingauta and 10 other supporters by suspected Zanu-PF supporters.
The victims were coming from a rally that MDC-T president, Morgan Tsvangirai, had addressed on the launch of the "No Reforms, No Elections campaign in Glen View 3 in Harare.
"The assault on Machingauta and other MDC-T supporters is a direct violation of Section 67 of the Zimbabwean Constitution which promotes the upholding of political rights where citizens are free to make political choices of their own and freely participate in any political activity," said HZT in a statement.
The assault signaled a flare in violence, after Sydney Chisi, the director of a youth organisation, YIDEZ, was assaulted by about 15 police officers during a peaceful anti-xenophobia protest last week.
"Heal Zimbabwe calls on the police to investigate the assaults and apprehend the culprits. Heal Zimbabwe also implores the Government to ensure peaceful co-existence and tolerance within Zimbabwean communities thus fulfilling its constitutional mandate of promoting national unity, peace and stability," added the trust.
Luke Taamborinyoka, Tsvangirai's spokesperson, said Machingauta was battling for his life at a Harare hospital and Tsvangirai had visited him.
Machingauta was meeting party supporters at a shopping centre in Budiriro when he was attacked by people who asked him why he was wearing an MDC-T T-shirt.
Other MDC-T members who were attacked include Rhodrick Kahuni, Ethel Edward and Handsome Nyoni.
Speaking after visiting the MP, Tsvangirai said: "This is barbaric. We are witnessing the emergence of vigilantes in Budiriro just as we saw similar thugs in Mbare."
He said the attack showed that Zanu-PF had not relinquished its violent politics and supported the election boycott his party was campaigning for.
The victims were coming from a rally that MDC-T president, Morgan Tsvangirai, had addressed on the launch of the "No Reforms, No Elections campaign in Glen View 3 in Harare.
"The assault on Machingauta and other MDC-T supporters is a direct violation of Section 67 of the Zimbabwean Constitution which promotes the upholding of political rights where citizens are free to make political choices of their own and freely participate in any political activity," said HZT in a statement.
The assault signaled a flare in violence, after Sydney Chisi, the director of a youth organisation, YIDEZ, was assaulted by about 15 police officers during a peaceful anti-xenophobia protest last week.
"Heal Zimbabwe calls on the police to investigate the assaults and apprehend the culprits. Heal Zimbabwe also implores the Government to ensure peaceful co-existence and tolerance within Zimbabwean communities thus fulfilling its constitutional mandate of promoting national unity, peace and stability," added the trust.
Machingauta was meeting party supporters at a shopping centre in Budiriro when he was attacked by people who asked him why he was wearing an MDC-T T-shirt.
Other MDC-T members who were attacked include Rhodrick Kahuni, Ethel Edward and Handsome Nyoni.
Speaking after visiting the MP, Tsvangirai said: "This is barbaric. We are witnessing the emergence of vigilantes in Budiriro just as we saw similar thugs in Mbare."
He said the attack showed that Zanu-PF had not relinquished its violent politics and supported the election boycott his party was campaigning for.
Source - zimbabwean
