New Year 2010 – and Zanu-PF Thugs face Lawsuit

Posted by ZDN on January 16, 2010

Attacks on Zimbabwean citizens by Zanu-PF cadres continue unchecked, but MDC structures in Mudzi West in Mashonaland have announced their intention to seek justice through the courts for murder, arson, grievous bodily harm, trespass, theft and extortion.

The renewed violence in Mudzi is being led by George Katsande, who is the son of Aquiline Katsande, the Zanu-PF Member of Parliament for Mudzi West.

The latest assaults represent a reprisal of the political punishments meted out after the 2008 one-man Presidential election, when a storm of violence was unleashed on the area in apparent retribution for voting ‘the wrong way’. The crimes were reported but have been ignored by police – in direct violation of the standing Constitution of Zimbabwe, as well as police regulations.

Threats from Zanu PF to MDC supporters and activists in the Mudzi and Gokwe areas are: “Look what we did to you last year and nothing has happened to us. So we can do what we like to you this year”.

But MDC party structures have prepared a series of lawsuits against Katsande junior and his gang of thugs. Backed by all the necessary proof and documentation, the lawsuits will be actioned by the MDC with the assistance of the Zimbabwe NGO Human Rights Forum.

The following Zanu-PF activists have been named as respondents in the lawsuit. The local Chief and the Sabhuku (headman) of each of the affected villages has been informed, as local custom demands.

George Katsande: ZPF operative
Michael “Tiger” Nhamodzvarume : ZPF DCC Security
Mekias Kasere : War veteran
Daniel Chamuteru : War veteran (Extortion)
Mabhunu Muchapera: War veteran
Gomwe Chihwai : ZPF Masarakufa Ward Chairman
Zvikomberero Kamba : ZPF activist and Youth Leader
Batsirai Kadiki : ZPF Activist
Zivai Chibanda : ZPF Activist
Tashupika Chibanda : ZPF Activist
Robert Nyagupe : claims to be Sabhuku ZPF activist
Pedzai Kadzirange : ZPF Secretary
Sarudzai Mativenga : ZPF Womens League
Clara Chaipa : ZPF Womens league
Tonderai Muyangeni : War veteran
Innocent Dendera : ZPF activist (Assault GBH on Mrs. Mahuni)
Bernard Dendera : ZPF activist
Spencer Gwenukwenu : ZPF activist
Jesinaro Rapkin : ZPF Activist (Arson on Mujai)
Solomon Bwanali : ZPF Activist
Moffat Bwanali : ZPF Activist
Alfai Alfai : ZPF Activist
Dick Timothy Monday Garufu : ZPF activist
Joseph Bwanali : ZPF activist
Emmanuel Chakuposhiwa : ZPF Activist
Tarwirei Chihota : ZPF activist
Munyaradzi Chipaurendo : ZPF activist (deceased)
Winnet Gwenukwenu alias Basket : ZPF Womens League (deceased)
Tafireyi Nduluma : ZPF activist
Kadiki Gwenukwenu : ZPF activist

The complainants seek reparations for the destruction of homes and property in 2008. In the case of those perpetrators marked as deceased, the lawsuit will attempt to attach the estate of the deceased.

A violent start to the New Year

The attacks in Mudzi recommenced after the Zanu-PF Congress in December, and have escalated in January this year. Recent reports cite gangs of Zanu-PF activists, led by George Katsande, luring villagers to meetings on pretext of distributing seed maize. Each time the ‘distribution’ turns out to be a party political meeting where villagers are harangued with Zanu-PF propaganda. Statements include that the MDC and its leader Morgan Tsvangirai are ‘rubbish’; that Zanu-PF is no longer in a unity government, and that Finance minister Tendai Biti is sabotaging agricultural inputs by holding back funds, so that ‘whites can go back to their farms’.

While it is interesting to note that Zanu-PF has to resort to fraud in order to get any attendance at their meetings, the inflammatory statements being made at these meetings are serious. They are being viewed by the MDC as slander, as well as a deliberate attempt to destabilise the GPA and the country (a charge which could be interpreted as treasonous). In addition, the complainants suspect that many of the Katsande meetings are unauthorised under the country’s harsh POSA laws.

The villagers at these fraudulent meetings are being told that they must vote for the ‘Kariba Draft’ constitution when the time comes, and are threatened with more violence unless they ‘surrender’ to Zanu-PF and resign from the MDC.

On New Year’s Day 2010, MDC ward Treasurer Benizer Mutize (who was a victim of torture during the 2008 elections) was assaulted by George Katsande and his group of Zanu-PF youth and self-styled ‘war veterans’. The gang caught Mutize while he was out herding his cattle, and beat him with sticks and fists, saying that he had refused to attend a Zanu-PF meeting at Rukonde School. The case was reported to the Police, who at so far have taken no action about it.

Katsande and his mob are reported to be moving from ward to ward, threatening to beat MDC members. Their message to villagers is that because of poor rainfall, Zanu-PF will bring in the donors, therefore for people to receive this food aid they will be required to produce a Zanu-PF membership card. The inference is that the donors themselves have instructed that the food be given to Zanu-PF members only. People at Chimkoko village are being forced to purchase Zanu-PF membership cards.

On the 8th January 2010, Zanu-PF ‘war vets’ forced shop owners in Bindura to donate towards the Bindura War Veterans Congress, and George Katsande again led the assault of four people for not attending a ZPF meeting. One of the victims suffered broken ribs.

It is an outrage that the MP for the area, Aquiline Katsande, can sit in parliament and claim the respect and privilege due to a ‘lawmaker’, while her son perpetrates a continuous stream of crimes in her name. In fact the son has taken his lead from the mother: Aquiline Katsande was herself named as a perpetrator of violence and torture in the 2008/9 state-funded operation named “Mavhoterapapi ” or “How Did You Vote”.

This political terrorism must be condemned in the strongest terms. We call on the Zanu-PF party president, Simon Khaya Moyo, to discipline his MP and stop the violence. We call on the justice system in Zimbabwe to have the courage to uphold the law.