Hooligans storm opposition member’s plot in post-election violence

Bulawayo – A Bulawayo family is living in fear after a group of unknown hooligans claiming to be aligned to Zanu-PF reportedly stormed their plot in Umvutsha, Umguza district.

The hooligans were said to have ordered the family to vacate the plot because the owner, Khokhelabakwethu Ndlovu and his cousin Royal Gumbo have been participating in the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change activities in the recent elections.

Ndlovu’s wife Qhapelisa Nyoni told this publication that the violent hooligans abducted her husband and Gumbo while some of the family members were severely beaten, including an elderly woman.

“The hooligans came to our farm and ordered my husband to vacate saying they were opposition members and don’t deserve to own the farm. Nyoni who was away from the farm only got to know of the incident from neighbors who had taken her mother to Mpilo hospital after sustaining severe beating.

“They tried to resist but they were so violent and went on to assault some of the family including an elderly woman. They even abducted my husband and his cousin Gumbo. We have since made a police report,” said Nyoni.

Police were not immediately available for comment.

Zimbabwe held general elections on August 23 – 24 pitting President Emmerson Mnangagwa against Nelson Chamisa of the Citizens Coalition for Change, the main opposition party.

And in the election aftermath, several incidences of police brutality have been reported in various towns around Harare since election day

Critics have also raised concerns about an August 23 raid on the offices of Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) and Election Resource Centre (ERC), two election-monitoring nonprofits.

Police seized computers and materials from the offices and arrested 40 workers.