Mugabe militias hold Zimbabwe MP hostage

Mugabe militias hold Zimbabwe MP hostage

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By Staff Reporter

AN OPPOSITION legislator was receiving treatment this week after he was attacked and held under house arrest for 27 hours by ruling Zanu PF supporters, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) claimed Tuesday.

Edward Mkhosi, the MDC MP for Mangwe is said to have been attacked by a gang of 12 militants on Sunday this week in Bubi district where he had gone to buy maize to feed his constituents, it was claimed.

The attackers also smashed the back windscreen of Mkhosi's car, MDC spokesman, Paul Themba Nyathi said Wednesday, adding four youths linked with Zanu PF had been arrested.

Mkhosi is said to have been in the company of the MDC's Bulawayo provincial organising secretary, Abednico Moyo. The two had gone to the homestead of Macdonald Sibanda, the MDC's candidate for the council by-election in Goodwood, ward 20, scheduled for Sunday next week.

"A group of about 12 Zanu PF supporters invaded Sibanda’s home and demanded to know what the two MDC officials were doing in the Zanu PF territory," Nyathi said. "When they were informed that the two wanted to buy maize, the Zanu PF group threatened to deal with the MDC officials for daring to come into their territory."

Nyathi said more Zanu PF supporters continued to arrive at Sibanda’s home until they were around 200 and surrounded the home.

"They smashed the back window of Hon Mkhosi’s truck and also assaulted him together with his colleagues. They detained them until the following day (Monday) at around 1600 hours when the police arrived," he said.

"Fortunately, Sibanda had managed to sneak away in the middle of the night and went to report the matter to the police who only arrived some 27 hours after the attack had begun. The local headman had also made an effort to report the matter to the police but they took their time responding."

This is the second attack on an opposition MP inside a week after Mbare MP Gift Chimanikire came under attack from a mob of ruling party militants in his constituency last week. He was attending the opening of a vegetable market where Vice President Joseph Msika was officiating.

Said Nyathi: "The Zanu PF group had the audacity to cook their meals in Sibanda’s home using logs pulled from his kraal. They also pulled down his house. A six month old baby who had been sleeping in the house was saved by Sibanda who managed to get her out before the house collapsed. The group proceeded to burn three blankets which Hon. Mkhosi had been using.

"The MDC is not perturbed by this behaviour from Zanu PF. It is typical Zanu PF strategy to resort to intimidation and violence each time they are faced with election defeat."
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