By Tanaka Mrewa
Movement for Democratic Change(MDC) national chairperson Thabitha Khumalo, Friday, visited three of the party members who were abducted by unidentified armed gunmen last week.
Khumalo visited Gooden Phiri, Shelton Tembo and Luba Phiri at their respective homes to offer support.
According to victims of the latest wave of abductions, the unidentified men who were armed with AK47 rifles and pistols, reportedly drove around in commuter omnibuses some with yellow number plates.
Phiri was abducted on Saturday night by 10 men after they vandalised his home in Sizinda. He sustained injuries on the mouth after his abductors reported gagged him to prevent him from making sounds.
Phiri was later dumped at D Square in Entumbane suburb.
MDC Provincial Spokesperson Swithern Chirowodza told CITE in an interview that the brutality displayed against MDC is no different from the violence the party experienced in 2008.
“The methods of operation are a reminder of what we experienced in 2008 when the Joint Operations Command (JOC) led the army in the slaughter of Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) members,” said Chirowodza.
“Who shot and perforated MDC-T’s Godfrey Kauzani, Cain Nyeve and Better Chokururama’s body with bullets, without police, the JOC or Zimbabwe Defence Forces reacting in 2008?” he said.
“Who in August 2019 abducts Wilbert Verenga and threatens him with a folding-butt AK 47 rifle, without police, the JOC or Zimbabwe Defence Forces reacting?”
Ward 9 MDC Deputy Treasurer, Wilbert Verenga was abducted together with Tadiwanashe Marumbei. Both men were admitted at Mpilo Hospital.
Deputy mayor, Tinashe Kambarami also fell victim to the abductions and his dreadlocks were allegedly shaved off.
The wife of Ward 26 councillor Arnold Batirai was also subjected to beatings together with their neighbors after they failed to locate Batirai.
Goodsen Phiri (red cap), Hon Thabitha Khumalo, Shelton Tembo and Luba Masotsha
