ZBC Journo Fingered In Zanu-PF violence

It emerged on Monday that police had arrested two Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) youths over disturbances that rocked the town of Chitungwiza last Sunday.

In a statement MDC-T said a Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation news reporter, Tafara Chikumira was part of the Zanu-PF violent coordinating team.

Chikumira was not immediately available for comment but in an official statement to the media late on Monday the MDC-T information and publicity department confirmed the ZBC journalist’s alleged involvement in the coordination of the violence inside and outside Chibuku Stadium, the venue of the aborted rally which was expected to be addressed by party leader Prime Minister Tsvangirai.

This is not the first time journalists from ZBC have been accused of siding with ZANU (PF) as a number of them have been placed on sanctions for fuelling violence.
Some of them include ZBC Diplomatic Correspondent Judith Makwanya,Rueben Barwe,Musorowegomo Mukosi.

The party also said its activists Julius Marambakutongwa and Kuda Muchemwa were arrested on allegations that they were behind the disturbances that rocked the town on Sunday.

The two were detained at St Mary’s Police Station.

The MDC-T rally had to be cancelled after the disturbances, which happened in full view of the police.

At least 50 MDC members had to seek medical treatment at various health institutions.

“What is shocking is that the police have decided to arrest MDC youths in connection with the disturbances, which were perpetrated by known Zanu-PF youths,” read part of the MDC-T statement to the media.

“When MDC officials tried to make a report on the riots, a police officer at Makoni Police Station, Constable Mudambiwa refused to open a police docket.   Instead, the police are now targeting and arresting known MDC youths in Chitungwiza who were attacked while preparing for the cleared rally by overzealous thugs from Zanu-PF,”  MDC said.

The MDC T identified some of the perpetrators of Sunday’s violence as; Jim Kunaka, the Zanu-PF Harare province youth chairperson, Zanu-PF’s Chitungwiza district coordinating committee (DCC) chairperson, Wilfred Gwekwete, Luke Luke of Ward 25, Chitungwiza North and Godknows Muzenda, a Zanu-PF Harare youth provincial member.

Others are; Nyasha Dziva, Chitungwiza DCC secretary, Dennis Fisher, Lloyd Bhunu, Tichaona Chapfika and Tonderai Kasukuwere. Kasukuwere is a young brother to Zanu-PF Politburo member Saviour Kasukuwere.