MDC Chipinge North MP attacked by Zanu PF mob
MATHIAS Matewu Mlambo, the MP for Chipinge North, on Saturday escaped death by a whisker when a group of about 200 Zanu PF youths attacked him at Pfidza growth point.
Mlambo was addressing an MDC presidential election campaign rally when the attack took place.
Mlambo said the attack took place at around 2pm.
He said: “I arrived at the growth point at around 2pm and saw at least 200 people waiting. Little did I know that MDC supporters had already been chased away and replaced by Zanu PF youths. One of them approached me and ordered me to leave if I valued my life. I thought he was joking as I had a rally scheduled for that venue and which had been approved by the police. Before I knew it, the mob started throwing stones at me. As I fled, my car, a Nissan Twin Cab, was damaged.”
Mlambo said he reported the case to Chipinge police station and was issued with a crime report number 22102.
At Tanganda township, Mlambo was stopped by another group of Zanu PF supporters who recognised him. He said he was warned him this was a no-go area for MDC members.
“I resisted and they started throwing stones at me. One of our members sustained cuts to his leg. I made another report at the same police station and was issued with a case number 012444. This is highly disturbing. MDC MPs are Morgan Tsvangirai’s election agents. How are we supposed to campaign in such an atmosphere?” he said.
Tsvangirai is the MDC presidential candidate. He is pitted against President Mugabe of Zanu PF, Wilson Kumbula, Abel Siwela, both of whom are running as independents, and Shakespeare Maya of the National Alliance for Good Governance.
Zanu PF has intensified its terror campaign in Manicaland as the election scheduled for 9 and 10 March draws nearer. More than 6 000 MDC members have reportedly fled their respective constituencies.
Meanwhile, the ongoing voter registration in Manicaland has raised eyebrows amid fears it could be a well calculated move by Zanu PF to rig the election.
In the past two weeks, more than 1 000 people have been registered as new voters in Mutare in what MDC officials have described as a fraudulent exercise.
Charles Mhende, the provincial registrar, confirmed the registration of new voters, but said the exercise had nothing to do with next week’s presidential poll.
He said: “The registration of new voters is an ongoing exercise which is conducted at any given time.”
Posted by Wellington Chadehumbe
on February 26, 2002. Filed under Politics.
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