….As political violence gets worse in Masvingo
TellZim Reporter
MWENEZI – As political violence hots up in Masvingo province and beyond, Former Zanu PF Central Committee Member, Tafadzwa Shumba, who is contesting Mwenezi West as an independent candidate had his campaign vehicle, a Toyota GD6, seized at gunpoint on July 19, by suspected gun wielding State security agents, TellZim News has learnt.
After the incident, the vehicle was driven towards Chirindi area where it was found the on following day (July) 20 burnt to ashes near Tsungirirai Secondary School.
Shumba confirmed the incident to TellZim News via telephone immediately after the alleged hijack, saying he was not in the vehicle when the incident happened but he was certain that the suspects were Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) agents who were on a mission to stop him from representing Mwenezi West people.
“The armed men were clearly looking for me and fortunately I had been warned to be on alert and was not in the vehicle. When they cornered my campaign team’s vehicle they pointed their guns to the occupants asking of my whereabouts and my men managed to escape and informed me,” said Shumba
He said a grey vehicle without registration numbers blocked his car and four men jumped and surrounded his car which had seven occupants.
“They managed to escape leaving the keys in the ignition. There were ladies among the occupants who could not run away and they were told to disembark from the vehicle before the suspects got in and drove off,” said Shumba
Shumba said he reported the incident to the police soon after it happened and even briefed the Dispol and suspects that it was his main rivalry Priscilla Zindari Moyo whom he contested and lost to in an unclear way during the party primaries.
Shumba contested as independent after he felt severely cheated in the party primary elections won by incumbent legislator, Moyo who is wife to CIO Director-General Isaac Moyo.
Contacted for comment, Moyo said she was not linked to the incident in any way as she is a peace loving person.
“On the day in question i we had our own programme and we were busy transporting people from Maranda and other areas. I am a peace loving person so I cannot be accused of perpetuating violence in my constituency,” said Moyo
She said it was actually him who is violelnt and is bitter that he lost during primaries and is now pointing anything bad that happens to him to her.
“I won in 2018 there and there was no violence. It only started now after he contested as independent. There is one person who is in hospital after being assaulted by his people and maybe his enemies are responsible for the incident but he wants to accuse me because he is bitter that I defeated him in the primary election,” said Moyo.
Another candidate is Citizen Coalition for Change (CCC)’s Brilliant Chifumuro.
Contesting on an independent ticket for former Zanu PF cadres is seemingly becoming deadly as witnessed by the recent controversial death of Gutu West Independent candidate Mutonhori Rwodzi who perished in an obscure car accident.
A number of political violence have been recorded in Gutu and Bikita district where opposition members are allegedly suffering at the hands of Zanu PF.
