Soldiers blamed for MDC-T official arson attack

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Soldiers are reported to have set alight two houses belonging to an MDC-T
official in Hurungwe, after allegedly confronting him for organising a party
rally in the area.

The Standard newspaper reports that MDC-T Hurungwe district organising
secretary, Edmore Chinanzvavana, has said soldiers were behind the arson
attack on his property.

Chinanzvavana said they accused him of organising a rally that was addressed
by the chairperson of the MDC-T’s women’s assembly, Theresa Makone, and
executive member Jessie Majome.

“When we arrived at my homestead at Magunje Growth Point from the rally at
Mudzimu Township we were threatened by soldiers and some ZANU PF activists,”
Chinanzvavana said.

“The houses were already on fire,” he explained. “Everything was burnt in
the house including a welding machine, grinding machine, fishing rods, two
tonnes of maize, six bags of fertliser, door frames and a table.”

The newspaper also said that a senior army officer reportedly threatened
MDC-T Hurungwe district secretary Tonderai Kusemamuriwo with unspecified
action for organising the rally.

“The senior army officer threatened me saying I should not lead MDC-T
activities within a 2km radius of the 2.3 Infantry barracks,” he said.

MDC-T members continue to be harassed by the security sector, despite calls
for it to stop. Local civic society groups and international groups like
Amnesty International have joined the MDC-T in condemning the army and
police brutality on political activists.