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Death toll reaches 32 as Zanu PF thugs run riot
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)
May 09, 2008

The death toll of MDC victims of political violence has reached 32 after eight deaths were recorded in the last 72 hours.

Political violence perpetrated by Zanu PF supporters has reached alarming and shocking levels with the MDC today recording the deaths of 32 of its members since announcement of the presidential poll results, which showed that President Morgan Tsvangirai had trounced Robert Mugabe in the historic poll.

Today, the MDC received two reports of deaths in Gokwe Nembudziya following a week of unprecedented violence in the area. The Zanu PF militia led by one Major Moyo from the Zimbabwe National Army is perpetrating the violence.

Zanu PF supporters on Sunday night murdered two MDC activists, Isaac Danda and another man the MDC has managed to identify only as Gomwe, 84. The two were murdered in the Tsungai area where Zanu PF thugs looted and burnt down a shop belonging to MDC senatorial candidate, Liah Nyathi.

According to witnesses Danda was stabbed with a knife and died on the spot while Gomwe was axed on the head and died on his way to Gokwe Hospital.

The MDC House of Assembly candidate, Kizito Mbiriza attempted to make a report at Nembudziya Police Station but was instead arrested by the police and is still in police custody.

A number of MDC activists who own businesses in the area had their shops destroyed by the Zanu PF activists.

The MDC candidate for Muzvezve constituency, Midlands, Ketayi Makosa was detained on Saturday for three days at Eiffel Flats police station on trumped up charges on threatening Zanu PF supporters.

In Harare, Nelson Emmanuel, 29, of Harare South was buried on Sunday after Zanu PF supporters beat him to death at his home in Hopley Farm. Emmanuel leaves behind a wife and a three year-old daughter.

Other deaths that the MDC has managed to record are of three MDC supporters who

were murdered in Uzumba, in Mashonaland East on Saturday 10 May. They are, of Musafare Mudimu, Karombe Benson Chipingu both of Manyika village and Ruth Mushayahembe of Chimbwanda village.

In Shamva North, Mashonaland Central, Elias Madzivanzira, a headman in ward 8 and his wife were axed to death by Zanu PF youths including purported war veterans known as Muroyiwa and Joshua who are based at Bata Farm in the area.

The death toll of Zanu PF's political violence at Manyika village has risen to three following the earlier death of Brighton Mabwera, aged five years. The child was burnt to ashes on 17 April after Zanu PF supporters torched the house of his parents.

According to MDC supporters in the area, Gokwe now resembles a war zone as the situation was tense and MDC supporters have been forced to flee to the mountains as their houses have been razed to the ground. Zanu PF supporters have also set up torture bases in the area.

This situation is contrary to claims by the police today that they had managed to dismantle torture bases and had intensified their operations.

Zanu PF is at the centre of the violence-taking place nationwide. Whatever it takes, the people of Zimbabwe are geared for change. They want their dignity back. They want to finish off this regime at the next available opportunity.

Change is in our hands!

MDC Information and Publicity Department

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