Political Correspondent
In a startling act of violence, a KIA Picanto vehicle belonging to a state security official was petrol-bombed in Chiwaridzo Township, Bindura, last Saturday night.
The attack, which occurred around 23:30 hours, was believed to have been orchestrated by suspected members of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), led by Takudzwa Ngadziore.
The security personnel, who are based in Bindura, have previously been accused by some CCC members of hindering the party's progress in the town.
According to insider accounts, the CCC members, in retaliation, conspired to target the officer and torched his service vehicle.
The front of the vehicle sustained significant damage, but timely intervention with a fire extinguisher prevented further ruin.
The same source said that in the aftermath of the incident, a report was filed at Chiwaridzo police station.
Constable Joseph Matava took charge of the initial investigation, visiting the crime scene and returning to the station by approximately 02:10 a.m. However, a shocking discovery awaited Matava just a few hours later.
At around 05:20 hours, other officers at the station found Constable Matava's personal Honda Fit ablaze, mirroring the previous attack.
Investigations revealed a similar modus operandi: flammable materials were placed beneath the engine, indicating the potential involvement of the same perpetrators.
The sources added that specialists from Harare CID Forensics subsequently assessed the crime scenes and stumbled upon granules suspected to be sulphur, a highly combustible substance that can explode when ignited.
Sources intimate that the CCC's advance team, comprising figures such as Ngadziore, Nobert Dhokotera, Tongai Jack, and another individual known only as Boris, might have masterminded these acts.
Terrence Chipwanya, a renowned political analyst, weighed in on the incidents, expressing deep concern over the escalating violence.
"It's disheartening to see members of the CCC resorting to violence, especially when President Mnangagwa has been fervently advocating for peace," said Chipwanya.
Chipwanya emphasised that these acts should not go unnoticed by election observers, urging them to document this violence in their final report on the upcoming elections.
Meanwhile, these incidents, which have raised the spectre of political violence, come at a pivotal moment in the country's political landscape, casting doubts on the security of the electoral process.
