Intensified violence claim two more lives in Kezi

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Written by James

Wednesday, 04 June 2008 05:50

BULAWAYO - FORMER senator in Zimbabwe's Matabeleland North Province and a group of war veterans have allegedly unleashed a reign of terror on villagers in Kezi district, some 70 kilometres west of Zimbabwe's second largest city--Bulawayo.
The violence has so far claimed the lives of two opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) supporters in the district, as ZANU-PF seeks to retain power in the build up to the presidential run-off election and three parliamentary by elections on June 27.
The former senator, Ananeas Nyathi, is alleged to be actively involved in a violent campaign that has led to the closure of five schools in the district after war veterans sent letters to the teachers warning them to leave the schools between May16-17. The schools are still closed.
People targeted were mostly key MDC leaders, and newly elected MPs.
Efforts to get comment from Nyathi were unsuccessful.
Alexander Phiri, the new councilor for ward two in Matobo, said he was now sleeping in the bush fearing for his life after the war veterans threatened him with death and warned that he would never be a councillor in his lifetime, at a meeting that was supposedly called to register people for food hand outs.
"They told me point blank that they were going to kill me. I thought it was just a threat. But that very same evening they talked emphatically about killing me. After realising that they were serious, I went into hiding.
"They chanted slogans right round my yard saying I was their meat," said Phiri.
Phiri's 14-year-old daughter was also thoroughly beaten up with sjamboks and logs by the same group of war veterans, and sustained serious injuries. She was being "punished" for failing to show them her parents' MDC regalia.
"At a roll call meeting they beat up six youths they accused of being supporters of the opposition. They then 'baptized' them at the dam in the name of ZANU-PF after forcing them to roll in mud.
"They burnt several MDC T-shirts and cards, threatening that anyone found supporting the opposition would be in trouble," said Mlamuli Ndlovu, a villager.
In ward two, an MDC activist, Luis Ndlovu, has since abandoned his homestead after the war veterans attacked him, while he was asleep in the early hours of the morning.
He spent a week at Mpilo Hospital and his two young children are now living with neighbours.
A door in one of the houses was axed and windowpanes shattered.--CAJ News.

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