Suspected Zanu PF activists have attacked Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) members, including two lawmakers, campaigning in Matobo district, Matabeleland South, ahead of the forthcoming council by-election.
In a tweet, CCC spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said, “We’ve just received a report that Hon @molokele & a group of CCC mobilizers have been attacked by a group of Zanu PF thugs who were in a 7-vehicle convoy. They’ve since fled for cover into a nearby bush. We condemn this orgy of violence unleashed by Zanu PF.
“ZANU PF thugs undressed CCC women community organizers during their orgy of violence this afternoon in Ward 2 Matobo. These women are part of our Matobo by-election campaign team. We condemn the resort to violence & call for peace.”
Member of Parliament for Nkulumane, Kucaca Phulu, was attacked by the assailants.
He told VOA Studio 7 that “I’m currently in hospital. I was seriously injured.”
Police spokesperson, Paul Nyathi, was unreachable for comment as he was not responding to calls on his mobile phone.
Mahere further noted that the assailants stoned a lawmaker’s vehicles and damaged bicycles.
“These bicycles belong to our village community leaders. They were attacked by Zanu PF thugs while running out by election campaign in ward 2 Matobo. They were badly beaten and their bicycles deflated.”