From The Zimbabwe Standard, 7 March

Zanu PF sets up youth camps to spearhead violence in Zengeza

By Chris Bvunzawabaya

Zanu PF has set up several youth camps in Zengeza where a by-election is due within two weeks and residents complain that the youths have already started to harass them. Four candidates: James Makore of the MDC, Christopher Chigumba of Zanu PF, Tendai Chakanyuka of NAAG and Gideon Chinogureyi of Zanu Ndonga are locking horns for the constituency. The seat fell vacant after opposition MDC Member of Parliament Tafadzwa Musekiwa went into self exile in UK amid claims that his life was in danger. The MDC, which has won nearly all major urban elections since its inception in 1999, is heavily tipped to retain the vacant seat during the elections pencilled in for March 27 and 28. MDC officials told The Standard last week that several youths, some of them members of Zanu PF's infamous Chipangano vigilante group, have been bussed into the constituency and were already unleashing terror among opposition party supporters. The Deputy Mayor of Chitungwiza, Lovemore Mutsamba, a senior MDC official, said ruling party supporters were also camped near the police station in Zengeza where they have held at least one person hostage while several people, including children and the aged, say they have been assaulted by the "chain wielding youths". "They beat up several people this morning (Friday) with chains and whips and what is worrying is that they are based close to the police camp,'' said Mutsamba.

The youths are reported to be targeting MDC supporters distributing party campaign fliers in the constituency. Residents said the situation was particularly tense in Unit D and 14 where several MDC supporters have been beaten up. In those sections, the Zanu PF youths are alleged to have set up four strong bases, one of them close to Makore's house. MDC Secretary for Information and Publicity, Paul Themba Nyathi said about 170 points had been set in the constituency. "We have someone in the truck who was heavily assaulted by the youths," Nyathi told The Standard yesterday. An MDC supporter identified as Chikemu was hospitalised after he was attacked by the marauding youths, said Makore. "These people are not from Zengeza - they are being brought here from other places. The people of Zengeza are peaceful," said Makore. Asked about the situation in Zengeza, Electoral Supervisory Commission spokesperson Thomas Bvuma said they had toured the constituency recently and had not received any reports of violence. "'We toured the area recently and the only report we had is of a woman who claims to have been head butted by a Zanu PF supporter," said Bvuma.