Political Reporter

Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) activist stabbed ZANU-PF Chiroti District Youth Chairperson in Hurungwe, Mashonaland West Province.

A source who spoke to this publication indicated that on 5 May, 2023, the Youth Chairman, Thando Mugoni was stabbed by CCC activist Tawanda Mashiri.

"The ZANU-PF Chiroti District Youth Chairman, Thando Mugoni was attacked and stabbed on his left side by CCC activist, Tawanda Mashiri. On the day of the incident, Mugoni was coming from a funeral," said the source.

The same source further revealed that the attack by Mashiri is a wider operation by CCC to attack members of ZANU-PF perceived to be king makers in thwarting the CCC penetration of the ZANU PF rural stronholds. He stated that the premeditated attack was discussed at provincial level by the CCC provincial assembly after they had failed to penetrate the rural constituencies.

"The attack on Mugoni is a broader operation by the CCC to target and eliminate ZANU-PF members, as this was discussed by the CCC provincial assembly after they failed to penetrate rural areas which are ZANU-PF strongholds. Mashiri volunteered at the meeting to attack and kill Mugoni in order to make penetration in Hurungwe West Constituency easy.

"It is in this light that CCC is failing to field candidates, hence they have resorted to the use of violence, to penetrate the rural areas," said the source.

Mugoni was transferred from Chidamoyo referral hospital to Sally Mugabe hospital as his life was at stake whereas Mashiri was apprehended by the members of the public and handed over to the police.

Furthermore, CCC activities have been characterized by violence in a number of constituencies, as frustration towards the failure to penetrate the rural areas through Mugwazo programme takes its toll. The candidate imposition has been so brazen in that party to the extent of fielding double candidates in some urban constituencies, a move that would lead to voter apathy within the same party.