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Cases of violence reported in Midlands, Matebeleland North and Mashonaland East
Zimbabwe Peace Project
April 07, 2008

Midlands
Reports coming from Gweru urban are stating that violence erupted yesterday evening at Mkoba 6 shopping centre where soldiers descended on unsuspecting revellers in bars and late night shoppers at the market beating them up. The soldiers were allegedly saying people's crime among other things was that they did not vote correctly. The soldiers issued a stern warning that they were going to return today.

The soldiers stuck to their word but descended on a different shopping centre in Mkoba 14. Unsuspecting shoppers and residents going about their daily duties were surprised with a visit at 10am today from uniformed soldiers in riot gear wielding big sticks that allegedly looked like broom sticks and some thicker sticks. A victim who narrated his ordeal to ZPP Provincial Coordinator in that province said the soldiers who beat them were wearing masks. The victim suffered a minor injury and was still milling around the shopping centre when our Coordinator arrived at the scene to verify the case following a tip off. However, ZPP Coordinator said the situation in Gweru urban is sombre and volatile with people holding their breath anticipating what next could happen.

Matebeleland North
Nkayi North
ZPP Coordinator in the province reported that violence erupted in Nkayi North, Gwelutshena, and Ward 4 on Friday after the announcement of Stembiso Nyoni Zanu PF as a winner for the constituency. Youths allegedly belonging to the opposition MDC set fire on a grinding mill set up by Nyoni in a show of anger. The Coordinator stated that the situation degenerated into serious violence as those supporting MDC and those from Zanu PF clashed with some reportedly axing each other. Some people were reportedly injured in the skirmishes. Nyoni is Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises.

Binga
Supporters of the main opposition MDC (Tsvangirai) are said to have held two celebration parties for the victory of their party in the parliamentary race. ZPP coordinator in the province reported the celebration parties were held without incidence and the supporters are currently eagerly awaiting the presidential results.

Mashonaland East
Marondera West
An alert coming from the constituency states that Foster Gwanzura campaign manager for Ambrose Mutinhiri in the just ended elections is going about assaulting and harassing people whom he suspects to have voted for the opposition. Some of the assaulted are Gerald Shamuyarira, Shingi Chigovanyika and Irvine Chimanga. The three fought back but ended up being arrested by police after Gwanzura, the perpetrator made a report against them. Many people are now flocking to the police station complaining about being harassed by Gwanzura and other Zanu PF supporters.

ZPP will continue issuing out alerts as reports come in from our Provincial Coordinators in the provinces. The situation is worrisome and events coming from the provinces are threatening peace. We wish the nation to maintain peace and the armed forces to desist from being proponents of violence.

Let Peace Prevail

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