The main opposition party, Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), says three activists were flogged by suspected ZANU‑PF supporters in Mutare on Saturday. According to CCC national spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere, the victims were attacked as soon as they left the party’s internal meeting. Mahere said the attackers are well known and that the incident has been reported to the police.
“We’ve received a report that known ZANU‑PF thugs unlawfully barricaded roads and violently attacked @CCCZimbabwe members who were leaving an internal meeting. Three CCC members were beaten with logs. The matter was reported to the police. No action taken so far,” Mahere posted on Twitter. She added that another ZANU‑PF official was caught on camera inciting violence and threatening to kill opposition members: “The incident took place yesterday. The @ZANUPF_Official member is caught on camera inciting violence and threatening murder. ‘Ndinokudamburai ndiri one. Ndinokuurayai.’ Our peace monitors brought calm to the situation and secured medical attention for the injured.”
Manicaland police spokesperson Nobert Muzondo said he could not comment because he had no facts at the moment. The attack follows, two months earlier, an incident in which seven elderly CCC members from Murewa were attacked by suspected ZANU‑PF officials. The political space continues to shrink for the opposition, which has had over 70 meetings blocked or banned by the police for various reasons. Some of those meetings have been interrupted by violent suspected ZANU‑PF activists, often leaving several people injured.
In January, anti‑riot police stormed CCC legislator Costa Machingauta’s home in Budiriro and arrested party organising secretary and lawmaker Amos Chibaya, along with 24 opposition activists who were holding an internal meeting. Machingauta and the lawyer hired to represent the activists were later arrested and charged with holding an unsanctioned meeting and disorderly conduct, respectively. CCC claims the ruling party is running scared as general elections approach in a few months.
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