KWEKWE – A Citizens Coalition for Change supporter Mboneni Ncube, 35, was killed on February 27 after a Zanu PF mob attacked a rally in Kwekwe.
Police have announced the arrest of 16 “suspects” and are on the hunt for a 17th – Kennedy Simbi – who is believed to have delivered the killer blow.
“At around 1400 hours, whilst Nelson Chamisa was addressing the gathering, suspected ZANU PF youths wearing yellow T-shirts infiltrated the meeting which was held in an open space and one of them threw a stone into the gathering and ran away.
“Towards the end of Nelson Chamisa’s address suspected ZANU PF youths intercepted to people in CCC T-shirts who were walking to the rally and threw stones at them. The skirmishes, about 400 metres from the venue, resulted in deceased being stabbed thrice with a sharp object on the back and died whilst admitted at Kwekwe General Hospital,” wrote the police in the memo.
“The injured are admitted at Kwekwe General Hospital and Topomasi Hospital in a serious condition namely Wilson Maseko (28) NR: Unknown of 13611/1 Extension, Mbizo, Kwekwe- he sustained cuts on the head, Isaac Chagonda (50) NR 63-783150K 27 of 11511/9 Mbizo, Kwekwe- he sustained a deep cut on the back, Vincent Sithole (28) NR: 53-2880964Q13 of 679/9 Mbizo, Kwekwe- he sustained cut on the back, Onias Mavhaya (37) NR unknown of 13366/1 Extension Mbizo, Kwekwe- he suffered two broken ribs, Mutwetwa Mudzengi (73) NR unknown of 1205/16 Mbizo, Kwekwe- he sustained dislocated hip and Langton Dube (60) NR unknown of 2644/9 Mbizo, Kwekwe who sustained head injuries. Also injured was Justice Chakanetsa (36) NR 47-179313L37 of ZRP Main Camp, Kwekwe- he sustains swollen hands.
“During the clashes, three motor vehicles were damaged, a blue Honda Fit registration number AEQ6375, owned by Tinevimbo Zhou NR 26-128168D26 of 25553/12 Mbizo Kwekwe (damaged rear screen), a white Mitsubishi Canter truck with no registration plates and owner not yet known (had all 6 tyres deflated), and a Toyota Vios registration number AET 0792 owned by Emma Nyika NR 63-112466R32 aged 42 of 7845/1 Mbizo, Kwekwe (rear left window damaged). The vehicles were parked at the shopping centre some 200 metres from the venue,” police further wrote.
Police said a group of Zanu PF supporters attacked CCC supporters at the rally with an assortment of weapons. When 16 suspects were arrested hiding in a local bar, police recovered machetes, knives, catapults, and whips in their vehicles.
On Saturday, a day before the attack on the Kwekwe rally, police used dogs, teargas and water cannons to disperse Chamisa’s supporters in Gokwe after banning his rally.
The CCC says the ruling Zanu PF party is using state institutions including the police to frustrate its political programmes ahead of by-elections on March 26. Twenty eight National Assembly seats and 120 municipal seats are vacant.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International has called for an independent investigation into the attack on a Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) rally which left one dead and 22 others hospitalised.
The rights watchdog blamed incendiary rhetoric by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime officials for “inciting such ferocious violence.”
The embassies of the United States, Britain, and Sweden also called for a swift investigation and the prosecution of the perpetrators.