By Wezhira Munya
… As police denied CCC members the opportunity to report a case against Zanu PF candidate, Energy Mutodi.
Zanu PF members in the Gutu constituencies have resorted to violence after President Nelson Chamisa addressed a highly subscribed rally at Maungwa business centre in Gutu South.
The victims are currently receiving medical treatment and psychological counseling.
Mr. Gobvu, the aspiring CCC candidate for Gutu South, strongly condemned the Zanu PF-induced violence against CCC members in the Gutu area. He expressed sadness over Zanu PF’s resorting to violence, emphasizing that CCC is a peaceful party that does not believe in such actions.
The following is a list of CCC members who were assaulted and injured by Zanu PF members:
Trust Machingura from Gutu South was beaten and left unconscious. He is experiencing chest and headache pains. Eight Zanu PF members used logs to beat him before throwing him into a river. He was later rescued by good Samaritans. He was able to identify two of the assailants as Tadamwa Chiwara and Promise.
Statement of the CCC in Response to this issue: We strongly condemn the deplorable actions of Zanu PF thugs, which include a sitting MP for Gutu South, Togarepi Pupurayi, who indiscriminately attacked innocent citizens in Gutu South following President Nelson Chamisa’s address to the community. In response, we have deployed our peace ambassadors to the area to provide assistance to the victims.
The individuals responsible for the violence are as follows:
Norman Wanga, Evans Mbizvo, Nyikayaramba, John Paradza, Zanu PF member of parliament for Gutu West, Togarepi Pupurai and his sons, Tadamwa Chiwara and Promise
William Mutondoro, aspiring councillor for Gutu West Ward 3, was beaten by a group of about 50 Zanu PF members who also threatened to set his house on fire. Among the perpetrators was Mr. Nyikayaramba, a field officer for Zanu PF aspiring member of parliament, John Paradza.
Dorothy Dori (not her real name for security reasons) was sexually abused by Zanu PF members at Maungwa business centre after removing her CCC t-shirt. Yesterday, a group of Zanu PF members led by Norman threatened to beat her for reporting the incident to CCC leaders. She is currently in a safe house.
Another CCC female member from Gutu, known as Ms. Tadiwa Ncube (not her real name for security reasons), reported being severely beaten and injured. She fled Gutu and is currently in a safe house receiving treatment.
Mr. Ngonidzashe Zulu (not his real name) was also beaten by Zanu PF members in Gutu South following President Chamisa’s rally. He is in significant pain and currently in a safe house.
Martin Muremba, an aspiring CCC councillor for Ward 25 in Gutu South, sustained severe injuries to his head, chest, and back. During the attack, his $200 and phone were stolen by Zanu-PF members.
Additionally, Godwin Madhuya from Ward 25, Collen Mawere from Ward 25, Misheck Chikonye from Ward 25, and Patrick Madzivanyi from Ward 23 were beaten and injured by Zanu PF members around 6 am before the rally.
Some of the Zanu PF members involved in the beatings and intimidation of Gutu CCC members include Norman Wanga, Evans Mbizvo, Nyikayaramba, John Paradza (Zanu PF member of parliament for Gutu West), Togarepi Pupurai (Zanu PF candidate for Gutu South), and his son, Tadamwa Chiwara, and Promise.
In another incident, the police in Bikita South have refused to record violent charges brought by CCC members against Zanu PF aspiring member of parliament, Mr. Energy Mutodi.
Mr. Simon Ziki, the CCC member who reported the case against Mutodi, said, “Today, I went to Bikita police station to report a case where Energy Mutodi fired two gunshots at CCC members during our Presidential rally at Baradzamwa Business Centre.”
The police claimed that the case is politically sensitive as it involves a Zanu PF candidate.
Furthermore, at Maungwa Business Centre, police officers denied CCC members the opportunity to file charges against Mr. Pupurai Togarepi, the Zanu PF candidate for Gutu South, and the Zanu PF youth who beat and injured CCC members both before and after President Chamisa’s rally.
