Torture at Mugabe’s Bulawayo residence

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MPILWENHLE Sibanda is so bitter that she does not see herself attending a Zanu PF event again in her lifetime after she was tortured by soldiers guarding President Robert Mugabe’s official residence in Bulawayo.

MPILWENHLE Sibanda is so bitter that she does not see herself attending a Zanu PF event again in her lifetime after she was tortured by soldiers guarding President Robert Mugabe’s official residence in Bulawayo.

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT

Sibanda of Saue-rstown in Bulawayo was walking home from Northend with a friend, Philip, when they were summoned by the soldiers into State House last Wednesday.

She emerged out of State House with a swollen face from alleged beatings by the soldiers from the Presidential Guard.

She believes she was being punished for not having a Zanu PF card and attending a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) district meeting held in the suburb on March 6.

“We were walking past State House from Northend on Wednesday around 8pm when soldiers asked us to go inside, but we refused. They forced us inside,” she said.

“We were told to run. They made us sit on some stones and asked for our national identity cards, but we told them that we had left them at home.

“They asked for Zanu PF cards and I told them I didn’t have one, but Philip told them that he had left his at home.”

Sibanda said another victim who she did not recognise was also summoned after the soldiers saw him passing by the gate.

She said the man was also beaten up for not carrying a Zanu PF card.

“They first poured water on him before hitting him. After that they then started beating Philip and locked him in a room,” said Sibanda.

“The soldiers then turned to me and asked my name and ID number. One of them slapped me.

“Another soldier asked him to stop, but he continued slapping me. He slapped me three times.”

Sibanda was later allowed to go home, but left Philip behind and was not sure about his condition as the two have not yet communicated after the ordeal.

“The soldiers harassed us, but these are the same people that are supposed to help us. We do not know who to turn to now,” she said

PDP secretary-general Gorden Moyo accused members of the Presidential Guard stationed at State House of torturing its members.

Moyo said following the district rallies held by the opposition party on Sunday, the soldiers took it upon themselves to fish out all individuals who attended the party meeting at Hide Out Hall and tortured them.

The meetings were addressed by PDP president Tendai Biti, his deputy Samuel Sipepa Nkomo, national chairperson Lucia Matibenga and Moyo.

“Two women were tortured and had their dresses torn up by the soldiers. They were insulted for turning Bulawayo central constituency into a PDP territory,” Moyo said.

“Three men were forced to admit that they attended a meeting that was addressed by Biti, Sipepa Nkomo, Lucia Matibenga and Gorden where Mugabe was insulted. These men were forced to do some press ups before they were kicked on their backs.”

He said PDP was considering suing Defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi, Defence Forces Commander, General Constantine Chiwenga and the commander of the Presidential Guard based at Bulawayo State House.

He said the Constitution prohibits members of the security forces from participating in partisan politics.

Zimbabwe National Army spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Alpheus Makotore was not reachable for comment yesterday.