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Africa Subsaharan
MDC Claims 10 Members Killed
2008-04-21
THE MDC has claimed that 10 of its supporters have been killed, 3,000 internally displaced while scores of others have been injured by soldiers, war veterans and youth militia in retribution for voting against President Robert Mugabe in last monthÂ’s election.

In the rural areas, war veterans and Zanu PF youth militia have gone on the rampage, beating up MDC supporters and torching their houses and killing their livestock for food. In towns and cities, heavily armed police and soldiers have virtually imposed curfews, beating and torturing anyone they come across.
Okay, so when are the MDC members fighting back?
MDC spokesperson Nelson Chamisa said the escalating violence targeting MDC supporters around the country “is very disturbing and depressing”. Chamisa said at least 10 MDC members had died in political violence. Four of the victims died last week, he said.

He named them as Tapiwa Mubwanda of Hurungwe East, Murunde Tembo of Mudzi North, Tendai Chibika of Mutoko East and Moses Bashitiyawo of Maramba Pfungwe. The Standard could not independently verify the deaths.

Police spokesperson Wayne Schultz Bvudzijena told The Standard the MDC “should not claim their supporters were killed by Zanu PF supporters” as the police were still investigating all cases of political violence. “I only know the case of a person who was killed in Hurungwe and the police are still investigating the case. I am not aware of the other three people you are talking about but we are investigating,” he said.
"I know nothing! Nothing! Tell them, Hogan!"
Chamisa said: “There is chaos in this country. We are very worried about this retribution campaign by Zanu PF. The violence is well-coordinated from the top and is being fuelled by hate speeches by the president of this country. This is how the genocide in Rwanda began, through such hate speeches.”

The MDC said the violence was widespread and had created a humanitarian crisis, particularly in the rural areas. Some have fled their homes to stay with relatives in urban areas. Others, said the MDC, were destitute after their houses were burnt down. The MDC secretary for social welfare, Kerry Kay, yesterday appealed to individuals, non-governmental organisations for any assistance they could provide to the internally displaced people. She said Harare, Mutare and Bulawayo had been thronged by MDC activists fleeing from Zanu PF militia and war veterans in the rural areas.
Posted by:Pappy

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