Zimbabwe main opposition leader’s convoy attacked: party

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Zimbabwe main opposition leader’s convoy attacked: party

9:23 CAT | 12 Oct 2021

File photo: AFP

A convoy carrying Zimbabwe’s main opposition leader was attacked by suspected ruling party supporters on Monday, his party said.

Nelson Chamisa “did not get injured although his close protection officers and security details were injured” and hospitalised, Fadzayi Mahere, spokeswoman for the Movement for Democratic Change Alliance (MDC-Alliance), told AFP.

The party said around 200 villagers, suspected to have been mobilised by the ruling Zanu-PF, barricaded roads and hurled rocks at their cars in the southern Masvingo region.

“This political violence is cause for extreme concern and a clear act of desperation by a bankrupt, illegitimate regime that has failed,” it added in a statement.

The party said Chamisa was on his way to meet community leaders in the Masvingo area when the convoy was attacked.

Before the incident, anti-riot police had raided and dispersed a meeting at the private residence of the party’s local leader in the area.

Government spokesman Nick Mangwana dismissed the attack as stage-managed “dramas”.

Political tensions are rising in Zimbabwe before general elections due in 2023 in which Chamisa is expected to mount his second challenge for the country’s top job against President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Late last month, 19 people, including 10 journalists, were arrested during a protest in front of the electoral commission in Harare where preparations were underway for the second polls since Robert Mugabe was deposed in a coup in 2017.

Mugabe, who died in 2019, was deposed by Mnangagwa.

#VIDEO footage of the violent, ZANU PF-sponsored attacks on President @nelsonchamisa’s delegation in Charumbira area. Cars were seen ferrying the rented crowd and co-ordinating the attacks as violent thugs held up printed posters. pic.twitter.com/FeUXIRQoky

— MDC Alliance (@mdczimbabwe) October 11, 2021

Villagers recount what transpired in Charumbira after a violent Zanu PF mob stoned vehicles, barricades roads with burning logs and badly injured members of President @nelsonchamisa’s delegation & advance team. “They were stoned, they were stoned,” they say. #ChamisaNgaapinde pic.twitter.com/NCAgHkxysd

— MDC Alliance (@mdczimbabwe) October 12, 2021

MDC-A Councillor Mberikunashe is one of the victims of today’s attacks on Nelson Chamisa’s convoy.

None of the ZANU-PF thugs has been arrested despite the police being in proximity when this happened. @PoliceZimbabwe pic.twitter.com/801YbJOxsR

— Team Pachedu 🇿🇼 Register to vote! (@PacheduZW) October 11, 2021

The selective application of the law by @PoliceZimbabwe stinks. They ignored 200 marauding ZANU thugs who stoned vehicles & assaulted our team. Moments before, riot police stormed a private meeting at the home of a provincial leader. The regime is terrified of President Chamisa. pic.twitter.com/ebYmJD6Fgk

— Fadzayi Mahere🇿🇼 (@advocatemahere) October 11, 2021

Source: AFP