MDC-T violence remains unreported, minister

THE Ministry of Information has said that incidents of violence by the Movement for Democratic Change (Tsvangirai) remain unreported as the media remains hostile to the ruling party.

In an interview with The Zimbabwe Guardian, the deputy Minister of Information Bright Matonga said, “Incidents of violence against our supporters remain unreported by a hostile media sympathetic to the west.”

“The government of Zimbabwe does not, and will never condone violence. The MDC-T party is well known for violence and it is surprising that the media is turning a blind eye on this party’s violent activity.”

The minister said a comprehensive report will be published by his ministry which will prove that MDC-T has been involved in acts of violence.

“We believe in reporting the truth. A comprehensive report will be made available with names of people and when and where they were arrested. We do not spread falsehoods or claim dead bodies,” said the deputy minister.

“We are arresting people and charging them for acts of violence regardless of their political affiliation.”

Reports coming from the ministry say that families from Madziva District in Mashonaland Central Province lost property worth billions of dollars when their homes were burnt down by suspected MDC-T supporters this week.

MDC-T thugs are said to have burnt down seven houses in the district on Monday and the eighth was burnt on Tuesday night in Dambaza Village about 40 km from Bindura.

Because of this incident police are now maintaining a heavy presence in the area, according to a newspaper report.
 
One of the victims, Mike Neuje, is reported as saying that suspected MDC-T activists threatened to come back to burn down homes of all known Zanu PF supporters in the area.

"I have lost crops, blankets and other property. I don’t know what to do to feed the family. I am surprised at how the peace that prevailed during the run-up to the harmonised elections has turned to this violence," he said.

The wife of the Commander of the Defence Forces General Constantine Chiwenga, Jocelyn Chiwenga, on Wednesday donated clothing, cash and foodstuff to the victims in the district under the banner of the Zimbabwe Army Wives and Women Association.

Similar unreported MDC-T attacks were reported in Mayo, Headlands. And in Bindura where three suspected MDC-T activists were arrested in Simona area after setting on fire a maize field belonging to a Zanu PF supporter.