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Villagers in Mwenezi and Zaka openly condemn violence
Heal Zimbabwe Trust
September 30, 2010

"....My brother was killed by the perpetrators for allowing villagers to gather at his homestead listening to the announcement of the results of the harmonized elections which were reportedly won by MDC as he was the only one with a television set in the area...." narrates Tatenda Mubhoyi at the memorial service of his brother Kenneth Dube.

Six Memorial services were held in Mwenezi and Zaka from 22- 26 September 2010 following an orgy of orchestrated violence by the armed forces with the assistance of some local villagers. Most of the cases of political violence in Mwenezi and Zaka were spearheaded by close family members, relatives and friends as the culture of respecting the traditional customs tends to fade away when politics come into play.

Below are summaries of the memorial services and details of the circumstances leading to their death:

Kenneth Mubhoyi Dube - 13/09/1950 - 11/06/2008

According to his brother, Misheck Dube, the deceased Kenneth Dube, was killed for allowing villagers to gather at his homestead to listen to the announcement of harmonized election results.

Kenneth Dube was assaulted to death by 15 youth militia using hoes and machetes at a local base. Three outsiders who claimed to be war veterans and were only identified as Dube, Ndlovu and Sibanda have been fingered out for causing the death. They were reportedly working with, Goddy Muboyi, a cousin to the late Kenneth and an active informer during the violence period who had signed a "death sentence form" that clearly declared that Kenneth was supposed to be murdered before the 27 June election run off. He left behind 5 wives and 16 children.

Amos Guluka Wille - 01/01/53 - 11/07/2008

Amos Wille was murdered on 11 July 2008 after being suspected of campaigning for the MDC having been seen with the losing candidate for Mwenezi, West Mr Muzenda who happens to be his brother in law. He was seriously assaulted by youth sent by two soldiers identified as Major Moyo and Major Ndlovu from Maranda, Mwenezi.

He left behind 8 children who are failing to make ends meet. The memorial service was attended by 70 villagers including Chief Neshuro and the village herd Neshuro.

Zuva Mugova - 14/09/1932 - 07/06/2008

By far the eldest person to be killed in political violence in Zaka he was brutally murdered at Svuuru base in Zaka after having been abducted from his homestead by 20 youth, soldiers and war vets. The deceased was accused of betraying the struggle for independence by influencing the younger generation to support the opposition. The deceased received a pauper burial as most of his relatives and family had gone into hiding .

The armed forces are reportedly said to have terrorized the area under an operation dubbed "wakavhotera papi".

The Senator for Zaka, Mr Marava as well as Zaka North House of Assembly Member Mr Mudavanhu attended the memorial with the Senator imploring everyone in Zaka to work towards promoting a culture of peace, coexistence and tolerance.

Joshua Chiyo - 08/08/1976 - 25/12/2008

Joshua Chiyo, a grandchild to Chief Bota in Zaka West was tortured at a base called Munyoro. He was assaulted for being the campaigning manager for the now MP Festus Dumbu during the 2008 harmonized elections. He was assaulted on the chest and head and sustained internal injuries which saw his condition deteriorate for four months until he passed away on 25 December 2010.

Members of the armed forces led by Colonel Major Mayoyo are the ones who abducted him and took turns to assault him. Joshua Chiyo is survived by a wife and four children.

Crison Mbano - 19/03/1982 - 04/06/2008

Crison Mbano was a district member for MDC for Zaka West. He was manning a command centre for the MDC at Jerera Growth point when the office was attacked by ten armed forces one of them who shot Crison three bullets one in the head, another in the chest and the first one in the abdomen resulting in his instant death and after wards they lit the whole office with petrol.

3 women working at an office behind the M.D.C offices were also raped. The only person recognized during the attacks was Colonel Mayoyo who is well known for terrorizing villagers in Zaka.

Betha Dzigarwi - 15/09/1960 - 07/06/2008

It is believed that the deceased was forced by youth militias to drink poison. Circumstances leading to the death of Bertha are still mysterious more than two years after her death. The husband, Crispen Mukanya could not hold tears when he narrated how her wife was killed. He highlighted that police reports were made yet no arrests have been made yet.

Joseph Dakwa - 21/10/1979 - 22/06/2008

He was killed for guarding the house of the Hon MP for Zaka, Mr Mudzuri during the 2008 election period.

He was beaten by more than twenty youth including soldiers and also thrown in fire two times during the beatings before being taken to Dekeza Mountain where he was shot by Never Mushanji his cousin, a soldier working in Harare but currently involved in the operation Maguta scheme.

In fulfillment of resolution 10 of the 20 September 2010 Heal Zimbabwe Survivors Summit, Heal Zimbabwe will embark on survivors capacity building project . The low cost income generating projects' main objective is to meet the sustenance needs of the families and restoring their full social and economic function.

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