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Violence in Mbare township: Testimonies from the victims
Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in Zimbabwe (CCJP)
July 15, 2011

These testimonies do not reflect the views or the political position of Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in Zimbabwe (CCJPZ). In fact, they were reproduced from the victims as they wrote them, save for a few editorials. CCJPZ is a non-partisan Catholic Organisation that promotes justice and peace.

Martha (Female)

I am 42, have 4 children and 4 grand children and I am on ARVs. I have been forced to attend Zanu PF meetings which I didn't. But they (ZANU PF youths) would come and take my daughter to join the toyi toyi (revolutionary street singing and dancing). I told them to stop taking my daughter. However, I was threatened. The youths promised to come and take me for a beating. I fled to a safe house. I am not very healthy, and living in safe houses wasn't easy. When I came back I could not continue with my roadside vending for fear of my life. I don't have enough food, cannot afford rent and I am staying with my sister in law. The harassing by the youth continues and I am not at liberty to collect my ARVs at Carter House in Mbare where the youths are camped. If I could have a residential stand to stay away from the harassment of Mbare, probably I will have more years to survive.

Mavis (Female)

Zanu PF youths would come to my house and chant war songs. I was frightened. I was afraid they would destroy my house or attack one or all of us. I fled to Highfield where I lived with my relatives. When it seemed calm I came back. But I am still living in fear because the meetings are now held so close to my home. The youths are using entrance to my house as their singing venue.

Jairos (Male)

I am 21 years old. I was on my way to deliver a church message to a church member when toyi toying youths forced me to join them. I explained I was delivering a church message, but they could not listen. At the end we had a heated argument and they started attacking me. I was forced to join them and to deliver the church message later. However, I failed to deliver the church message because of serious injuries.

Susan (Female)

I am 42 years old. I was 'sold out' by my landlord and the ZANU PF youths came to collect me at night. But I was alerted and I used the back exit where I was rescued by a passing vehicle that took me to a safe house. Currently, I don't have a place to stay with my children. I am seeking for any assistance to help me survive a decent life.

Mercy (Female)

I am a 42 year old widow with six dependents. I was thrown out of my rental home because ZANU PF youths were looking for me. The landlord threw my property out. My children were harassed and they are currently staying with a relative. Currently, I don't have a home. I need accommodation and food.

Sheila (Female)

It was in February when they came to my house in numbers. When they tried to enter my house, I sneaked through the back door. I was given shelter at a safe house. Every time, the ZANU PF youths would be looking for me. Living in Mbare has become very difficult for me.

Tatenda (Female)

I was at my house in Mbare when a big group of ZANU PF people came. They started hitting our gate. We were shocked and decided to disappear using the back door together with my aunt. We slept at my parent's place. However, we were later offered temporary accommodation at a safe house. We are not yet free and still struggle to survive.

Gift (Male)

I have written this report in connection with what transpired to me in Mbare. I was visited by about 80 Zanu PF youths who were chanting slogans. I could hear them saying politics was more important than the law and order as they looked and searched for me. Fortunately, I escaped and went to my friend's house to hide. However, they broke the door of my house, looking for me and my wife. They did not find us, but they collected blankets and clothes including my wife's clothes and my child's clothes. Our shoes were also taken. Unfortunately they severely beat up my twin brother whom we had left at home. I made a report to Stodard Police camp. The accused were arrested but later on released without charges. I also made a report to Jomic. They wrote a report but they haven't assisted me yet. I am no longer staying at my place. I can't live together with my family because of Zanu PF youths. The directives to harass people in Mbare are coming from a Jim Kunaka and Gore.

Maria (Female)

I am a 37-year-old single parent with four children. It was in February when ZANU people arrived at our house. We started to hear a lot of noise outside. We peeped through the window and we saw a big group of people. We realised they had come for us. I jumped through the back door and hid in a maize field. When I realised they had gone, I walked through the night to my daughter in law's house where I slept. Later, I was accommodated at a safe house for a month. Now they are promising to beat us. We are in a very difficult situation. We don't have a comfortable place to live because they always come to sing and dance at our house entrance.

Rhodea (Female)

I am a 77-year-old granny. This happened in February when Zanu PF youths came in their numbers at night. They started by grouping quietly at my gate so that they could not be heard. We were in our bedrooms, but we were still awake. We peeped through the window when they started knocking the gate. We did not open. My kids managed to escape to our neighbour using the back door. Before they got there, I heard them crying. In the process, I managed to get out of my house with the help of my son. I couldn't put on clothes. Instead, I escaped in my undergarments. I survived by a whisker. I escaped during the night and was later given one month accommodation at a safe house. I don't have peace at my house. Every time they pass through my place, they promise to beat us up.

Albert (Male)

Due to the death threats we received, we ran away with my wife and left the children all by themselves.

Miriam (Female)

I stayed in Mbare until I was threatened out of my home. Zanu PF youths came to my home and told me to leave accusing me of being an MDC activist and also because I had participated in the constitution making process. They told me if I did not leave, then they would deal with me. I was forced to leave my house together with my family. I have been moving from one place to another because I am scared the youths can spot me for a kill if they know my permanent resident. My vending / market table was also seized and now I am struggling to feed my two kids. I can't afford proper shelter, school fees and even clothing for myself and the kids. I need all the help I can get.

Regina

I am 35 years old with 2 children. I am always threatened for supporting MDC. One day, I was confronted directly and told to vacate my home that very night. They came in the evening and destroyed my bed and wardrobe. I ran away, leaving the kids with their father at a relative's house. I went to live at a safe house. Days after, our house was illegally occupied by another family. I reported the case to the police but little has been done. The new occupiers were summoned to the Police Station. But they said Zanu PF district gave them the house. I am stranded with my children. My husband is a vendor and my flea market table was taken. I don't have a stable source of income for shelter or food and need help.

Jonas

The Zanu PF youths knocked one night at our door and ordered us out of our house. We left the following morning for a safe house. We left our property in a friend's garage. After our departure from the safe house, we had nowhere to go except to our house. We discovered that a 'youth militia' had occupied our home. We were brave enough to remove the property of the youth militia and put ours. This did not last. We were attacked at night and our property was removed from the house. I reported the case to the police and JOMIC. We moved our property back in the house in the presence of the Police and JOMIC. However, fear is still with us especially as we live in this house. But we don't have anywhere else to go. We need assistance in food and shelter.

Sarah (Female)

At one time, my life was in danger. I was pregnant at the time and they threatened to 'operate' me with a bread knife to take out the baby out of my womb. They came and sang war songs on my doorstep one night. My condition did not allow me to leave for safe houses and so decided to live with my friend. I was stressed all the time because I feared they would trace and follow me. Due to high blood pressure and stress I conceived a still born baby in March. I am still living at a friend's family house and need help. My children are living with my mother, but she is not only too old to take care of them, but her source of livelihood, a flea market table, was seized.

Alice (Female)

Since I was given a post in the MPs office, the youths have been on my heels. One day the youths attacked and destroyed our office but luckily I had not reported for duty. After hearing this, I knew they would come for me at home. I shifted to another place. However, I am still living in fear and looking for a safer place to live together with my daughter who is commuting everyday from Chitungwiza to attend school at St. Peters' Primary in Mbare.

Fiona (Female)

I was forced to attend Zanu PF meetings and I refused. They planned to beat me and force me out of my home. But I was tipped earlier and I ran away and moved into a safe house. I left my kids with their aunt, who lived with them till I came back. When I returned, I realised my flea market table had been given to someone else. Although I am at my house, I am afraid I may be attacked any time. I have no source of income and struggle everyday to raise a meal.

John (Male)

I was harassed and forced out of my house. I left my property in the house and went to live in a safe house. After I had left, my house was occupied by a Zanu PF youth who now refuses to vacate. I am not employed and I don't know where to get food and shelter for my family.

Lazarus (Male)

I was threatened by Zanu PF youths both at home and at Siyaso where I work. I had nowhere to run to except to move into the safe house. My wife and children stayed behind. Now, I can't openly go back home. I have been sneaking to see my family like a thief.

Lucia (Female)

I have been receiving threats for some time. When they attacked me, I ran away and settled at a safe house. But I left my property inside and my children with relatives. As soon as I left, the youths broke into my home and broke my property. They stole 4 cell phones the family had left behind when they were running away. Some days later, my sons came and forcibly put back their belongings in the house. They haven't come back, but I am not settled. I can be attacked any time. I have to take care of some orphans, but it's impossible when you are always trying to avoid being attacked.

Philip (Male)

I was threatened by Zanu PF youths who promised to beat me hard. As old as I am, I fled with my wife to a safe house where we lived and left our children in the house all by themselves. We lived and shifted with other victims from one safe house to the other especially after police raids. However, we came back to our place, but I can't be involved in vending because that is where most of the youth who are after me operate. I can't provide anymore for my family and I am struggling every day.

Amanda (Female)

The Zanu PF youths broke into my mother's house where they were sitting as a family. They started throwing property from the third floor of the building to the ground. The family fled, leaving the youth in the house. They took a computer, home theatre and a fridge which they carried in a truck and drove away. They promised to come back for my mother, but she joined others in the safe houses. She left her children with a relative and the youths went on to seize her flea market table where she got some income. She is unemployed and struggles to feed the children. She did not recover her confiscated property. The case was reported to the Police. The chief culprit was arrested but later released on bail.

Nomsa (Female)

I was accused of being an MDC activist. Consequently, most of the people residing at Mbare's Matapi flats turned against me. Most wouldn't talk to me or greet me. I smelt a rat and ran into a safe house. I took my two children because I had nowhere to leave them. I am back in my house, but I am living in fear. I don't know what may happen to me anytime. I had survived on selling small things on the flat's entrance, but when I came back I was told the place was out of use for people who support the opposition. I am now finding it difficult to feed my children or pay rent.

Hosea (Male)

I was threatened and thrown out of the family house. With memories of 2008 when I was also beaten, I fled with my wife and infant son. We settled in a safe house. When I decided to go out of the safe house to collect my income from my employee, I was abducted by the youths. A witness who saw what was happening reported the incident to the police. But the youths could not be moved. They took me to a building under construction and beat me thoroughly under my feet and in the head. Later, the police arrived. I was released, but no arrests were made. When I got back to the safe house, I was taken to hospital and I recovered. Now I am living in the same block of flats, but in fear. But I want to emphasize that although most of us ran to safe houses, the Police raided us, accusing us of stirring violence. They also accused us of being trained to cause war. My group moved to three safe houses before the members went back to their houses. But most of us now live like beggars and in so much fear of our lives because the perpetrators have not been brought to book. We need assistance like accommodation, food and even clothing and school fees since most of us no longer have any means to raise income. I, for example, was dismissed because I had spent too much time in safe houses without reporting for work

Gift (Male)

I was threatened by youths and I fled leaving behind my wife with a relative. But the youths broke into our house and destroyed some property. My cell phone was stolen. My flea market table was taken and now I am struggling to make ends meet.

Simon (Male)

I have been accused of being an MDC supporter and therefore I have experienced constant harassments. One day when I was coming from my flea market, I was tipped the youths were looking for me. I fled to a safe house. I can't be involved in vending anymore and I am living a hard life as a young man.

Noah (Male)

In March, the youth from Magaba followed my wife to where she is staying with her sister in Mbare flats. They beat them up so they would tell them where I was. At that time, I had been thoroughly beaten by the youths and was recovering in the Avenues Clinic. They demanded to finish me. Their aim is to get rid of me because I know all the people who are terrorising us in Mbare.

Samson (Male)

Sometime in February 2011 Zanu PF youths used to knock at my house forcing me and my school going daughters to attend their meeting they held near my place. Indeed, they always hold their meetings at the roundabout near my place. When I ran away for a month, they kept on knocking at my door, forcing my daughters to attend meetings. I instructed my daughter to tell a senior ZANU PF member in Mbare that they needed time to study. I had been surviving on selling chickens and beer at my house, but when my daughters asked why they were forced to attend the rallies, I have not been allowed to carry on with my survival strategy. Whenever I try to sell something they always come to disturb me.

Shawn (Male)

On 04/03/2011 at around 2030hrs, Zanu PF youths were busy attacking me. These youths were staying at what they called bases and office in Nenyere Flats. They knocked at my door shouting to us to open the door saying they are Comrades. These youth are Martin Matinyanya,Tacler Makwarimba, Shutto, Tawanda, Clever Chabuka, Sailas, Paul Chingwende, Bongani Chipudza, Briton Chinake, Rain Gigisi, Phinius, Muchaneta Matinyanya, Peter Matinyanya, Fabian Sanyika, Baba D. Matowo and Mupositori and others. All of these people stay in Nenyere Flats. They dragged me out of the house. They hit me with a log in the head, in my back and my jaws. I fell down, but they continued to assault me until I lost consciousness. When I got up, I realised I was at Matapi Police Station. I saw Blessing Ngoromani, Briton, Teaboy with Shoko, the Member in Charge. The Member in Charge told me that if I was an MDC member it was unfortunate because he did not want to see any MDC members in Mbare. He said we should go to Britain because there is no place for us in Zimbabwe. He then told the police officers who were there to detain me in the cells. I was locked in the cell from 2100hrs - 0330hrs. Some in mates periodically called the police because I was struggling to breath. They took me to a public hospital where I was not attended for almost 9 hours. However, I was later transferred to the Avenues Clinic where I received medication for a week. But my jaw is permanently broken. However, on 14/04/2011 Shoko locked me in cells again, accusing me of unlawfully escaping from the cells the day I was taken to hospital. On 30/05/11 I was beaten up at Nenyere flats by ZANU PF youths who live at Carter and Paget Houses. They used iron bars. I was rescued by a Police officer who was passing by. No one has been arrested to date. My property was looted, including the stuff which I sold at the market. They also took my $US500 and a cell phone Nokia 6600. They are chasing us every day at our working places. They are saying they don't want any MDC people to do anything in Mbare to raise income. My family is broken up because my wife is staying with her sister and I don't have anywhere to stay. They took my house and gave it to a neighbourhood police officer who works with Matapi Police Station. When I asked about this, I was beaten on Monday. I am not employed and I am not selling anything. I don't have anything to help my family.

Enos (Male)

I was beaten on 02/06/11 at my flea market table because of the name MDC. In addition, they took away all the things I sell at my flea market table. I am asking for any assistance to help me start life again.

Killian (Male)

On 02/06/11 I survived by running away. Our wares for sale were confiscated and they no longer want to see us on our flea market tables. Our lives are in danger and we don't know where to begin. We are asking for any kind of help. Yours who is being harassed, Killian

Judith (Female)

My son, who was a Security Guard at Harvest House died on the 19th of October 2010. But they started the war on 20 October. They beat up the mourners and poured sand into the pots that were cooking mourner's food. They also hailed stones, hitting several mourners. They destroyed our furniture, confiscated 11 big and small pots, 24 cups, 4 two in one blankets and a DVD player. They also took sugar, cooking oil, mealie-meal, salt and firewood. The door, the coffee table and the dining chairs were destroyed. It has become difficult to live in Mbare.

Compilation date 14 June 2011

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