Zimbabwe PM Tsvangirai's MDC Alleges Members Kidnapped by ZANU-PF Militia
Four MDC members from Chiikomba West, Mashonaland East province, are said to have been abducted on their way home from a congress
The Movement for Democratic Change said the four went missing following violence on Sunday in the Harare district of Mbare allegedly perpetrated by a gang known as Chipangano alleged to be linked to ZANU-PF The Movement for Democratic Change formation of Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said Wednesday that four of members from Mashonaland East Province were kidnapped early Monday by suspected members of the former ruling ZANU-PF party at the Harare bus terminus on their way home from a Bulawayo party congress. The party identified the four as Chikomba West District Women’s Assembly Chairwoman Remita Motiwa, Ward Chairman Timothy Mugari, party member member Anna Peresu, and a ward youth chairman identified only as Taruvinga. The MDC said the four went missing following violence in the Harare district of Mbare on Sunday allegedly perpetrated by gang known as Chipangano with ties to ZANU-PF. The group targeted MDC members coming from the congress who were traveling to their rural homes through the Mbare terminus, singling them out by their MDC regalia. Chikomba District Chairman Anthony Mutodza told VOA reporter Jonga Kandemiiri that sources told them that the four were taken to Matapi Police Station in Harare but officers professed ignorance as to the whereabouts of the missing party members. VOA Studio 7 was unable to obtain comment from police spokesmen Andrew Phiri and Wayne Bvudzijena, who did not respond to calls to their mobile phones. Elsewhere, police summoned Zimbabwe National Students Union President Tafadzwa Mugwadi to question him about statements he made at a Workers Day rally on Sunday warning the government of possible Egyptian-style protests if reforms are blocked. Police said the student leader insulted President Robert Mugabe during his speech at Gwanzura Stadium in the Harare suburb of Highfield, and tried to incite protests. Mugwadi told VOA Studio 7 reporter Tatenda Gumbo that his statements were harmless and consisted only of an analysis of the current situation in Zimbabwe.