MDC Commemorates June 27 President Tsvangirai on Friday paid homage to MDC members who lost their loved ones and were subjected to torture, inhuman treatment, displacements and persecution for being sympathetic to the MDC during the violent June 27 2008 presidential runoff. Speaking to hundreds of villagers at the Chironga homestead in Chiweshe, President Tsvangirai emphasized that never again should such violence be experienced in this country. “It is a sad reality that such atrocities could take place in this nation. People should not be afraid of elections. It is everyone’s right to support whomsoever they want and the government must respect that,” he said. He added, “I am encouraged by the spirit in this place. It shows that one may succeed to kill a person, but fail to destroy the spirit for which one dies for. This is a struggle for democracy, a struggle for posterity. It is not a selfish struggle, but one that wants the future generations to enjoy the true fruits of independence. The spirit here is we are marching on in this struggle”. Hilton and Susan Chironga, the siblings to deceased Gibbs Tayengwa Chironga the then MDC councilor elect, narrated a harrowing ordeal on the fateful day in which their brother and two uncles where ruthlessly murdered by known Zanu PF members, including neighbours. Watching on was the pale figure of Gibbs’ mother, Nelia who is a survivor of the torture that took the life of her son. On that fateful day, they were in their hut in the early hours of the morning. Zanu PF thugs, led by Major Cairo Mhandu invaded their home, armed with guns, machetes and paraquat, a liquid used in farming to destroy weeds. They wanted to wipe out the entire Chironga family, as it was known to be staunch MDC supporters. Biggs had been able to shrug off other contestants to win the council seat in that ward. Biggs was shot in the stomach by Richard Chirongwe, and he died on the spot. Hilton was shot on his leg and arm, by Major Cairo Mhandu who was the loosing Member of Parliament candidate for Mazowe Central. They could do little to defend themselves. The Zanu PF thugs assaulted them. Their uncle, Joel Ngowani, who had come to warn them of the impending danger was not spared. The thugs would lift him and smash him against the rocks at the Chironga homestead. By the time they were done assaulting the four, permanent damage had been done. They bundled them into trucks and went to their other uncle’s home, Hama Madamombe who was assaulted and smashed against the rocks at his house. After that, the six were paraded in front of villagers, who were not allowed to say a word. They were told this is how Zanu PF treats the opposition. Those who cried were assaulted. The torture ordeal which had started at around 6 am of the fateful day, only ended at 10 am after they were dumped at Forrester Estate in Mazowe North, an adjacent constituency. President Tsvangirai said the people will one day look back and pat themselves in the back that “we did it”. “Our pride will be that we did it with bare hands and our determination. At least during the war they all had guns, but we do not have those guns because ours is a democratic struggle. It is sad that those who claim to have liberated us are the same people who are killing us for believing in transformation,” President Tsvangirai said. “Mugabe has presided over violence throughout his reign. From the Gukurahundi to the short or long sleeves era of 2008, it all has been blood, suffering, displacements and torture for the people. We will not be discouraged by this until we achieve change for Zimbabwe,” he said. He added that there was need for institutional reforms and a complete electoral reform implementation before the country can truly have a democratic, uncontested election. Zanu PF, in the last election, massively rigged the people’s vote using a sophisticated system of vote manipulation with the help of NIKUV. “We have seen that the absence of violence does not mean the presence of peace,” he said. Mai Tsvangirai, who was touched by the narrations of the survivors, said it is hard to believe that such violence could take place.“But it has happened, because I saw this in Zaka as well where the other members were petrol bombed. There is need to remember the people who died for the cause of democracy. Before we think of ourselves, let us think of the people who died for the cause of the nation. It is important that we are united by the thought of these people,” she said. The deputy National Chairperson, Hon Morgen Komichi added that the party remains fired up to live through the struggle until we achieve democratic change because of what has happened. “2008 was a bad year for democracy. It exposed the violent nature of Zanu PF, but it showed the resilience, strength and determination of the people of Zimbabwe for change. Let us therefore, remain united and ensure that the next generation does not experience this kind of violence again. Never again should the people be abused for believing in change,” he said.
Posted on: Mon, 30 Jun 2014 15:30:51 +0000
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