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Zanu PF Gangs Descend On Dzivaresekwa

The Daily News (Harare)
NEWS
June 9, 2003
Posted to the web June 8, 2003

By Farai Mutsaka Chief Reporter

SUSPECTED ZANU PF youths went on the rampage in Dzivaresekwa yesterday and
destroyed several houses, injuring more than 20 people and looting property
estimated to be worth millions of dollars, according to residents of the
suburb.
They said the attacks were carried out by about 60 youths who were armed with
various weapons. The youths were wearing regalia emblazoned with the ruling
party's name and T-shirts inscribed with the words: "No to mass action,
Zvakwana".
Residents of the suburb who spoke to The Daily News said the youths descended
on several houses in Dzivaresekwa 2 late on Saturday night and early yesterday
morning and carried away televisions, radios, cellphones, stoves, cash and
other moveable property.
The youths also assaulted residents they suspected of being supporters of the
opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
Several of the residents said they had to seek medical treatment after the
assaults.
One of the residents, Violet Tazvivinga, said the youths had stormed her house
at around 10 pm and accused her of supporting the MDC.
They demanded that she produce the opposition regalia that they said she kept
in the house.
She said the youths had assaulted her using batons and chains. They also stole
a radio and a two-plate stove from her house.
"They surrounded the whole house and started throwing stones before they forced
their way inside by axing the front door. They demanded that I produce my MDC
card and the T-shirts that they claimed I kept," she recounted.
"It was after I denied that I had these things when they started beating me up
with all sorts of weapons. After destroying my house and beating me up, they
then took away my radio and a stove," she added.
When this reporter visited Tazvivinga's house yesterday morning, the doors had
been broken and the windows shattered, while the interior was littered with
stones, bricks and broken glass.
Tazvivinga's attackers are suspected to be part of a group of ZANU PF
supporters that party officials say were bussed into Harare from rural and
peri-urban areas near the capital city to assist the police to deal with last
week's mass action.
There have been several reports from Harare residents implicating the youths in
assault and looting.
Wonder Alfonso, also of Dzivaresekwa, said he had sustained head injuries after
the youths stoned him.
He received eight stitches from Parirenyatwa Hospital.
"I had to be rushed to the hospital because I was bleeding. It was a terrifying
situation because they were threatening to kill me. And from the way they were
armed, I didn't doubt them. The batons they used resembled those used by the
police," he said.
Garikai Vhinyu, another resident of Dzivaresekwa, said he lost a television
set, a radio, clothes and $35 000 in cash to the marauding youths.
He told The Daily News: "They were dressed in T-shirts written 'No to mass
action' and they were very violent. The only thing that they left was the bed
because they couldn't drag it out of the house.
"I have reported the case to the police, but they didn't seem enthusiastic
about the case. Actually, one of them told me that they were under instructions
not to arrest the youths."
A policeman at Dzivaresekwa police station confirmed receiving the reports of
violence perpetrated by the ruling party gangs.
"We have received quite a number of such reports, but my friend, you know that
I am not supposed to talk to you. Phone the (police) spokesman at PGHQ (Police
General Headquarters)," he said.
It was not possible to secure comment from the police headquarters before going
to print yesterday.

   

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