by Political Writer

Harare West resident, Gondai Bangidza is seeking legal action against MDC-Alliance youths affiliated to legislator Joana Mamombe following an altercation with the MDC youth gang, after they  overhead him  criticising the legislator in Mabelreign, last Saturday.

In a letter addressed to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, Bangidza said he currently fears for his life as he and his associates were currently in hiding, having received chilling threats since the occurrence of the altercation.

According to letter, dated 3 March 2021, on 27 February 2021, Bangidza was interacting with some friends in Mabelreign commenting on current affairs, when he was overheard by overzealous MDC youths citing the poor state of affairs in the area, owing it to the incompetent legislator, Joana Mamombe. This did not go down well with the MDC yobs leading to a confrontation.

 “The three youths grabbed me, threatened me physically and verbally saying that I cannot go against the owner of Harare West,” read the letter.

“After this I am now in fear and I am walking looking over my shoulder at every corner and cannot do any businesses to sustain my livelihood because of these threats.”

Though he had initially intended to go to the police, he notes that he had since abandoned the idea after receiving death threats against himself and anyone associated with him.

“As a citizen and resident of Harare West, I am entitled by the Constitution of Zimbabwe to freedom of expression and affiliation…I seek to get legal  action against the MDC Harare West MP as these are her people threatening us.”

This is not the first time that MDC youth brigades have been reported to gang up against citizens as the culture of violence is embedded in their party. The party has documented history of violence, even against its own who among others include Thokozani Khupe, Sekai Holland and the late Trudy Stevenson .