Soldiers run amok in Chipinge, force villagers to live like baboons

Villagers under headman Barauta of Mt Silinda Mission, in Chipinge district have fled their homes and feel like they are living like baboons in the mountains following continuous violent attacks by members of the Zimbabwe National Army.

One of the victims John Matikiti is battling for his life at Mt Silinda Mission hospital after he was severely assaulted by soldiers at Zona Tea Estate owned by Tanganda Tea Company.

John Simango from Maraka village told this publication that the visibly drunken soldiers ran amok and started assaulting villagers as a way of projecting hard power by the military.

Though some of the victims have reported these crimes at Grass Flats, Mandere police post, no arrests have been reported and it appears that the soldiers continue to perpetrate violence on innocent civilians with impunity.

Efforts to get a comment from the Officer Commanding Police in Manicaland Province, Senior Assistant Commissioner Dorothy Kupara were fruitless as her phone went unanswered.

Zanu (PF) has institutionalized fear in Zimbabwe, for as long as violence is perpetrated in the name and cause of President Mnangagwa and Zanu (PF), there is both impunity from prosecution and conviction.

Another villager, Mrs Mirriam Mtetwa of Chako business center, submitted that the Mnangagwa administration appears to be more violent than that of his predecessor Robert Mugabe.

She further implored Emmerson Mnangagwa in his capacity as Head of State and Leader of Zanu (PF) party to denounce and bring to an end all human rights abuses, including violent attacks by soldiers.