Hebert Zharare News Editor
POLICE in Mashonaland East Province have arrested six people for allegedly fatally assaulting Cephas Magura (58) in Mudzi on Saturday morning.

Officer commanding police in Mashonaland East Province Senior Assistant Commissioner Ronald Muderedzwa yesterday said they had adopted zero tolerance to politically-motivated violence.
He said all people caught on the wrong side of the law will be arrested regardless of political affiliation.

“Following a politically-motivated violence incident that occurred at Chimukoko Business Centres in Mudzi District of Mashonaland East Province on Saturday 26th day of May 2012 at around 1000 hours in which a male adult, Cephas Magura aged 58 was allegedly killed as a result of political violence between the alleged Zanu-PF and MDC-T supporters, police have so far arrested six suspects who are already in police custody facing allegations of murder.

“Police investigations have gathered momentum and all the suspects will be arrested without fear or favour. Political parties should desist from instigating their supporters towards committing acts of violence as no sacred cows will be spared,” he said.
Snr Asst Comm Muderedzwa said political parties should urge their supporters to resolve their differences through Jomic, adding, “the Zimbabwe

Republic Police has a zero tolerance stance towards political violence.”
MDC-T said the deceased was its Mudzi North Ward One chairperson and alleged he was ‘‘severely assaulted by Zanu-PF supporters at Chimukoko Business Centre’.
‘‘Magura was hit with a stone and fell down before he was fatally assaulted by the Zanu-PF thugs. Sekuru Magura was part of over 100 MDC members who had gathered for a police-sanctioned rally.’’

Zanu-PF legislator for Mudzi West Cde Aqualinah Katsande blamed MDC-T for the violence.
“Our youths were having their own meeting in a hall at Chimukoko when a group of MDC supporters, who were holding their meeting at a nearby ground, invaded our meeting and this was provocation. It resulted in the youths fighting,” she said.
“We have our members who were injured and we took them to hospital. We also reported the matter to the police,” Cde Katsande said.

“The MDC supporters were outnumbered in the fight and they fled from the scene and drove away in their truck and one of their members who was seated in the back of the truck fell and hit his head on the ground resulting in his death.
“It is not true that he was killed by our supporters, but fell off their moving vehicle.”

Observers said the violence was instigated by fifth columnists keen on putting Zimbabwe in the spotlight ahead of the Sadc summit scheduled for Luanda, Angola this weekend; and the visit by South African President Jacob Zuma’s backroom facilitation team which arrived in Harare yesterday.