Beverly Bizeki
As the date for the Gutu west by election draws closer, violence cases have started to be reported with the latest being of the six members who were injured during a violence storm that occurred at Chiriga Business Centre on November 8, 2023.
Though no comment could be obtained from the police by time of writing, Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) Gutu West candidate Ephraim Morudu confirmed the incident saying he was told that a number of people were injured.
“I have heard of the happenings at Chiriga Business Centre, I was told that people were injured in the attack and Loveness Gwatidzo is currently admitted at Gutu Mission Hospital and is said to have sustained spinal cord injuries.
“However, some of the people who got injured have not gone to the hospital as they are afraid of being followed by security agents in hospital,” said Morudu.
Allegations are that on the given day, a group of about seven people alleged to be Zanu PF members stormed Soweto Spot shop at the centre which belongs to Tapiwa Chiro at around 8:00 pm where he was doing a stock take together with his wife Loveness Gwatidzo.
Sources who spoke to this publication said a group of people who were in the shop intended to buy food as they were going to guard the venue where Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) was going to hold its rally ahead of the November 11 by election.
When contacted for comment, Chiro said he heard a strange knock on the door before it was forced open and the suspects entered the room and started beating people in the shop.
“There were about eight people in the shop when we heard a hard knock on the door before it was kicked open. They started beating my wife, and I managed to escape into another room.
“I managed to get out but I got a beating before I fled into a nearby bush and heard my wife screaming before the group left the scene,” said Chiro.
He said they managed to identify one ward 6 Gutu West Zanu PF member and his brother among the perpetrators.
“We managed to identify one Zanu PF member (name supplied) and his brother and we later reported to the police,” said Chiro.
Other victims were identified as Brian Sithole, Privilege Goremushandu, Ephraim Tavarwisa and Sydney Mashiri have reported the matter to the police at Chatsworths.
A series of political violence cases were reported in Gutu and other parts of the province in the run up to the August 23 elections.
