Roy Chikara, Masvingo, October 11, 2011 - Suspected boisterous war veterans on Sunday night set ablaze a bus belonging to the Movement of Democratic Change (MDC) faction led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai at Mashoko mission business centre here.

Bikita south MP, Jani Vharandeni, told Radio VOP that he suspected that it was the work of Zanu (PF) war veterans who accused him of ferrying villagers from his constituency to a rally for the late Gutu South legislator and Public Affairs Minister, Eliphas Mukoneweshuro that was addressed by Tsvangirai the previous day in Gutu.

Vharandeni operates a fleet of buses in the district plying under the name Mabuku bus services.

“My bus was burnt beyond repair and I think war veterans are behind this because they have been threatening me and my people for going to the rally addressed by our President and the country’s Prime Minister,” he said.

Vharandeni said the arson attack was carried at around 12 am when the bus was packed at Mashoko Mission waiting to carry passengers to Masvingo the following day.

He added that a war veteran only identified as Mavhundi was sleeping in the bus and suspect that he was behind the attack with his colleagues who are believed to have followed later.

“My conductor told me that a war veteran Mavhundi had demanded to sleep in the bus saying he had a ticket to travel in the morning. I also feel it’s the war vet because when I was going to the scene of the accident I met some more war veterans about 40 km who told me that my bus was burnt. How did they get to know when they stay away from Mashoko, it was a planned thing,” said Vharandeni.


“We made a police report at Mashoko mission and they said they were making investigations and have since interrogated Mavhundi who had some burns from the fire, he is currently admitted at Mashoko Mission hospital receiving treatment,” he added.

Masvingo police spokesperson, Inspector, Tinaye Matake declined to comment when contacted by Radio VOP on Monday.

This is not the first time MDC legislator and officials have been targets of arson by Zanu (PF) thugs. Recently an MDC top official in Triangle, Isaac Tinago Imbayarwo survived an attack on his life after his house was petrol bombed by suspected Zanu (PF) youths.