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Several people hurt in fresh Chipinge unrest
Tichaona Sibanda, SW Radio Africa
October 10, 2007

http://www.swradioafrica.com/news101007/chipinge101007.htm

At least 10 MDC supporters have been injured and several had their houses and cars damaged in Chipinge in a fresh wave of violence reportedly ignited by Zanu-PF councillors in the southeastern district.

Trouble started when a local Zanu-PF councillor for ward one stormed the Gaza business centre on Saturday and tried to disperse the over 300 MDC supporters attending a rally that had been sanctioned by the police.

A primary school teacher from Musirizwi, Remigio Bundo, has now been suspended pending dismissal after being seen wearing an MDC t-shirt at the rally. According to Godfrey Chenjerai, the MDC district chairman for Chipinge north, half of the 35 Zanu-PF councillors in Chipinge are also headmasters or teachers. Some work for government institutions.

Chenjerai said disturbances on Saturday were ignited by a Zanu-PF councillor known as Mbandure, who used abusive language to try and disperse MDC supporters so he could have his birthday celebrations at the same venue.

'Surprisingly Mbandure was born in February, but wanted to celebrate his birthday on the 6th October. We knew he just wanted to disrupt our rally and pointed out to him that we had police clearance. Harsh words were exchanged and we decided to carry on with our rally and Mbandure went his way,' Chenjerai said.

Unknown to the opposition supporters, Mbandure is alleged to have rallied his supporters who armed themselves with sticks, stones and bottles and went on a rampage, indiscriminately attacking people in the area. No arrests were made after the attacks.

Bitter MDC supporters took revenge on Mbandure when they beat and left him badly bruised on Monday. Police arrested MDC supporter Charles Nyathi who has spent the last two nights in police cells. Chenjerai said the police were quick to make an MDC arrest but they failed to question anyone from Zanu-PF about the weekend violence.

'The law is being applied selectively here, but people don't care anymore and have vowed to hit back when attacked. We have reached a point where we have decided to defend ourselves,' Chenjerai said.

This is not the first time that Chipinge has been rocked by violence. Three weeks ago, scores of terrified people were sent packing in political violence that resulted in the arrest and assault of opposition MDC activists.

Political tensions have been on the rise in Chipinge since the beginning of last month when the MDC held successful rallies in the district. The MDC has accused the head of the Central Intelligence Organisation in Chipinge town, Joseph Chiminya, and almost all Zanu-PF councillors for orchestrating the violence.

The attacks, which first began in Ngaone north of Chipinge town, have now spread to areas in Tanganda and outlining border areas of Mount Selinda and Rusitu. These areas are right on the border with Mozambique.

Every time the MDC organizes a rally now, state security agents are taking over the venue and start distributing maize. Known MDC activists are forbidden from getting near these distribution points.

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