Losing MDC-T Election Candidate's Property Set on Fire
Irwin Chifera
Some intimidated MDC-T supporters were recently living in a mountainous area in Muzarabani, Mashonaland Central Province.
HARARE —
Property worth thousands of dollars was destroyed Tuesday night when the homestead of losing Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) candidate for Marondera West in the July elections, McDonald Muchetwa, was gutted by fire in a suspected case of political violence.
Property including a motor bike, cement, maize, bicycles and cellphones was burnt after suspected Zanu PF activists torched the house around midnight.
Muchetwa’s parents told VOA Studio 7 the people who burnt the homestead came in a kombi and demanded to see his father before they burnt one of the houses at the homestead.
Muchetwa’s father said he suspects his son’s house was burnt down by his political opponents.
MDC-T Mashonaland East provincial spokesman, Graham Nyahada said the party is concerned about the increasing cases of political violence in the province.
He said the matter has been reported to the police and Mahusekwa police are investigating the matter.
Nyahada said his party is worried about the continued harassment of MDC-T supporters by suspected Zanu-PF activist in the area.
Nyahada said the party has lodged an official complaint with the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (JOMIC).
JOMIC officials in the province confirmed to VOA Studio 7 the matter was discussed at meeting where they looked at their elections report in Marondera on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono’s chicken farm along Mutoko Road was gutted by fire in a suspected case of arson early this week.
The fire which gutted at least five hectares was put out by the Harare City Council Fire Brigade.
The chief operating officer of Gono’s company, Velenjani Lupankwa, is quoted in the state-owned Herald newspaper saying they are yet to determine the extent of the damage and the cause of the fire.
