News / National
Zanu-PF offices bombed
28 Sep 2013 at 21:02hrs | Views
Property worth thousands of United States dollars went up in flames early yesterday morning after a Zanu-PF ward office in Harare's Highfield suburb and the party's publishing company, Jongwe Printers, were petrol-bombed.
No one was injured in both incidents.
National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi could not readily confirm whether the attacks were politically-motivated. He said law enforcement agents have launched investigations while no arrests have been made so far.
"Yes, we have received reports pertaining to the bombing of Jongwe Printers as well as Zanu-PF Machipisa ward offices.
Property in a grocery shop next to the offices was destroyed. "At the moment, all we can say is that investigations are underway and no arrests have been made yet."
Zanu-PF Harare provincial chairman Ambassador Amos Midzi said investigations would determine the motive behind the bombings.
"I can confirm that Jongwe Printers was petrol-bombed in the early hours of today (yesterday), but not much damage was inflicted. At Machipisa, there was complete destruction of property. As a party, we are certainly looking into the matter while working with the police."
Witnesses at Machipisa Shopping Centre yesterday said the noticed a fire at the office at around 2am. They said the inferno spread to a nearby supermarket, destroying goods and property worth thousands of dollars.
"As you can see, the office is now in ashes and we have lost property which includes benches, tables and books," said Zanu-PF secretary for administration for Glen View 7, Cde FitzGerald Mukumba.
"The forensic experts came and took some samples. Results will be out soon, but our position at the moment is that there was foul play because there was no electricity, therefore, it could not have been an electrical fault."
Mr Lawrence Tendengu, a shop assistant at Grocery World Supermarket, said they lost goods worth about USS$50 000.
"When the boss came this morning, she fainted because goods worth over US$50 000 went up in flames," he said.
"The Fire Brigade came on time. Unfortunately, they did not have enough water to stop the fire from spreading from the Zanu-PF office."
No one was injured in both incidents.
National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi could not readily confirm whether the attacks were politically-motivated. He said law enforcement agents have launched investigations while no arrests have been made so far.
"Yes, we have received reports pertaining to the bombing of Jongwe Printers as well as Zanu-PF Machipisa ward offices.
Property in a grocery shop next to the offices was destroyed. "At the moment, all we can say is that investigations are underway and no arrests have been made yet."
Zanu-PF Harare provincial chairman Ambassador Amos Midzi said investigations would determine the motive behind the bombings.
"I can confirm that Jongwe Printers was petrol-bombed in the early hours of today (yesterday), but not much damage was inflicted. At Machipisa, there was complete destruction of property. As a party, we are certainly looking into the matter while working with the police."
Witnesses at Machipisa Shopping Centre yesterday said the noticed a fire at the office at around 2am. They said the inferno spread to a nearby supermarket, destroying goods and property worth thousands of dollars.
"As you can see, the office is now in ashes and we have lost property which includes benches, tables and books," said Zanu-PF secretary for administration for Glen View 7, Cde FitzGerald Mukumba.
"The forensic experts came and took some samples. Results will be out soon, but our position at the moment is that there was foul play because there was no electricity, therefore, it could not have been an electrical fault."
Mr Lawrence Tendengu, a shop assistant at Grocery World Supermarket, said they lost goods worth about USS$50 000.
"When the boss came this morning, she fainted because goods worth over US$50 000 went up in flames," he said.
"The Fire Brigade came on time. Unfortunately, they did not have enough water to stop the fire from spreading from the Zanu-PF office."
Source - Sunday News
