Jessie Majome relates assault ordeal

The Chairperson of the Parliamentary portfolio committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs conducting consultation on electoral reforms, Jessie Majome has related the ordeal how he was assaulted by suspected Zanu PF youth in Dangamvura Mutare during the meeting.

"I am touched by your concern about my wellbeing. Thank you! This here is why I was assaulted and injured on my left wrist at Dangamvura Hall in Mutare. I was tightly clutching this sheaf of papers with written views on the ERC electoral reforms petition, the petition itself, my notebook and a folder. Having silenced pro-reform voices by disruptively shutting down the meeting, a mob of brutish beasts charged to the front of the hall where my colleague MPs and I were sitting waiting for calm so we could resume the hearing. They were frustrated by our not budging so they decided to advance and frighten us away," she said.

"Only Hon. Innocent Gonese to my right, Hon Priscilla Misihairabwi to my left and Hon Lazarus Katsiru somewhere to her left. They started by just shouting, ranting and raving at us for various concocted 'misdeeds' all in a barely audible way because of the din of their rowdiness. Only a narrow, small table they pushed us to the stage wall with, separated us from this mob which was gesticulating furiously against us, but mainly myself the chair. We were now wedged between the stage wall behind us, the flimsy table in front of us, and the angry marauders right round.":

She said they then took her to task for collecting written views, failed to snatch it grim the table because she  beat them to it. She said they demanded to confiscate the submissions which  she refused.

"They then pounced from all around as some had climbed onto the stage behind us. Hon Misiharabwi leapt up in fury and certainly blocked a blow or two meant for me. She stunned the brutes into stupor momentarily. They then continued charging. In this melee some woman seized Hon Gonese's petition from him and tore it up then and there. Meanwhile I had to wrestle to keep clutching the public's views which the brutes were baying for. I was determined that they should never confiscate them and would guard them with all it takes. In that scuffle the blows that came for me injured my hand and two fingers (I had been injured the previous day at Mutoko on one of my right fingers a small cut from someone's nail in my attempt to keep holding the microphone when disruption resumed ) , as well as tear and crumple the papers, including the petition. How symbolic! Hon Misiharabwi was then whisked to safety by Hon Katsiru while I was saved by the ex Mutare mayor Jerrison, the current mayor Nhamarare's driver and some MDCT local colleagues who formed a human shield around me that shoved through the horde to the exit at the back of the hall," Majome said.

"I reported these crimes and contempt of Parliament to Dangamvura Police Station RRB no 2946203. If the police do not apprehend these brigands despite the video evidence supplied to them they will have confirmed my suspicion that these disruptions are a JOC (police and CIO) collaboration with the Zanu PF commissariat as was said at the Bulawayo Iminyela hall disruption of the next day. I had also received an ominous call the previous week from a Charumbira from the President's office incredibly purporting to ask about the Bulawayo public hearings' schedule. I regard that as an attempt to intimidate me and wrote a complaint to the Speaker which had not been responded to up to now.":

Majome said meanwhile they are continuing with the hearings, intimidation Is not an option!

"We're leaving Gwanda now, which, together with Concession was the only other peaceful hearing out of the 6 we held. We end with Gweru tomorrow," she said.