Madhuku claims assasination attempt

Madhuku claims assasination attempt

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By Torby Chimhashu

A LEADING critic of President Robert Mugabe's government claimed an attempt had been made on his life early Sunday when his house was doused with petrol and set on fire as he slept with his family.

Lovemore Madhuku, chairman of the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) immediately fingered the country's spy agency -- the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO).

Speaking to New Zimbabwe.com, Madhuku said a large explosion rocked his Waterfalls home in Harare just after 12.30am.

Madhuku said the screams of his children and relatives sleeping in the house pierced the night calm.

He said: ”There was fire everywhere in the house. Both entrances to the house were engulfed by horrific flames, rendering our escape useless. For 10 minutes, my whole family was in the choking smoke. We could not do anything. It was traumatic."

Madhuku and his family later escaped through a window that cracked open due to the fierce heat.

He later gained access to his garage operated by a shutter after breaking down the remaining windows in the bid to save his family from the raging inferno.

Madhuku said he was convinced the attack was orchestrated by the feared CIO.

Madhuku said the attackers sprinkled petrol outside the house and the garage where his cars were parked hoping that they would catch fire and explode.

"It was a professional job. The CIO had hoped to blow up the garage. If the plan had succeeded, it would have passed as an electric fault. They had planned their attack very well," Madhuku said.

"I have no doubt in my mind that the job was carried by the CIO with orders from their superiors. Perhaps they think they can silence me by using these intimidating tactics."

Madhuku made a report at Waterfalls Police station, but maintains he has no faith in the police force. He cited a number of cases in which the police failed to apprehend suspects involved in bombings and politically-motivated attacks.

In January 2000, suspected CIO operatives and war veterans blew up The Daily News printing press into smithereens. No arrests have been made to date.

On 28 August 2000, the offices of independent radio station, The Voice of The People (VOP) were blown up by a powerful bomb at its offices in Milton Park. Again, no one was arrested.

Last week, Madhuku, with other civic groups including the fractious opposition Movement for Democratic Change launched a campaign to force President Mugabe to hold elections in 2008 after his Zanu PF party unveiled plans of extending his term office by two more years until 2010.

Madhuku said Mugabe's move to hold the Presidential plebiscite and the Parliamentary elections at the same time was a denial of the people's right to elect their leaders through a democratic process at the appointed times.

"It is an affront to democracy. We will fight for a people-driven constitution that will determine the electoral process," Madhuku said a week before the attack on his house.
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