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Political violence - Nyanga North villagers flee to Mozambique
Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP)
February 25, 2011

More than 30 villagers from Nyanga North Constituency have fled the country into Mozambique while several others are now staying in the mountains following a spate of political violence from Zanu PF youth militias.

Some of the people affected by the new wave of violence are school teachers, MDC-T supporters and officials. Three teachers from Chatindo Primary School have been reported to be among the victims who have crossed the border into Mozambique.

A group of Zanu PF militias has been reported to be moving around the constituency harassing and intimidating villagers over the past two weeks. The attacks have been targeting all known MDC-T supporters and elected officials from the party.

The group, according to Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) monitors on the ground, has been using three vehicles allegedly belonging to Zanu PF Member of Parliament for Harare South, Hubert Nyanhongo.

Over the weekend the group visited the homesteads of MDC-T councillors from the Nyanga Rural District Council but the intentions of the visit could not be established since the MDC-T officials were not at their homes. The affected councillors are from Sabvure Ward 10 and Ward 1 (names withheld for security reasons).

By Friday February 25, 2011, the councillors had sought refuge in Mutare fearing for their lives.

Several other villagers were reported to be now staying in the mountains where their chances of being attacked are very slim.

The Zanu PF youth militias are being led by one man who has been identified as Itai Gweshe and has been directing the campaign of terror over the past two months. The violent attacks on the villagers started two weeks ago where incumbent MP for Nyanga North Douglas Mwonzora was arrested for allegedly instigating political violence.

Political violence erupted at a rally that was being addressed by Mwonzora and the legislator claims that the Zanu PF youths stormed his meeting but were driven away by the crowd.

Mwonzora is now languishing at Mutare Remand Prison after the State invoked section 121 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act challenging the granting of a US$50 bail to the legislator and his supporters.

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