LUPANE – Eight Zanu PF activists were allegedly raided, assaulted and forced to chant MDC-T slogans in the run-up to the violent June 2008 Presidential run-off.
Report by Reporter by Silas Nkala
This came up last week at the trial of nine MDC-T supporters accused of assaulting Zanu PF activists for allegedly supporting the former ruling party in an MDC-T stronghold.
The magistrate remanded the nine out of custody on free bail to October 9 for continuation of trial.
The state called four witnesses — Chelesile Ndlovu, Austin Moyo, Aleck Moyo and Sithembile Ndlovu — all from Holomoka village in Lupane.
Four others are expected to testify on the next remand date.
In their testimonies, the witnesses said they were raided at 5pm while drinking beer at a local homestead and forced to chant MDC-T slogans.
“They forced us to chant, ‘Tshisa Mpama, Tshisa’ before assaulting us with knobkerries accusing us of being Zanu PF members in an MDC-T stronghold,” Austin told the court.
Medical reports produced in court showed that they sustained moderate injuries due to assault with blunt objects.
The court heard that between June 22 and 23 2008, the nine MDC-T activists went to Holomoka village in Gomoza, Lupane. They allegedly raided eight Zanu PF activists whom they allegedly assaulted with stones, knobkerries, axes, iron rods and logs.
A police report was made leading to the nine’s arrest.