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Forensic investigators comb the crime scene at Tendai Biti’s home in Umwinsdale yesterday

Felex Share and Daniel Kachere
MDC-T secretary-general Mr Tendai Biti’s Umwinsdale, Harare, home was yesterday morning petrol-bombed by unknown people in an attack sources believe could be linked to infighting in the party.
This is the second time such an attack has been carried out on Mr Biti’s property, and comes barely two weeks after he and a youth leader Mr Solomon Madzore narrowly escaped a beating at the hands of a mob outside the party’s headquarters in Harare.

Not so fortunate were MDC-T deputy treasurer Mr Elton Mangoma and another youth leader Mr Promise Mkwananzi, who were assaulted while party leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai watched.

Mr Mangoma has called for Mr Tsvangirai to step down, and it is believed he is supported in this by Mr Biti and a host of other party executives.

MDC-T sources yesterday said the second bombing of Mr Biti’s house could be evidence of escalating intra-party fighting, and warned that a split was imminent.

The molotov cocktail struck a pillar on the gate, leaving it smoke-stained.
In June 2011, Mr Biti claimed his Chisipite house had been petrol-bombed.

The incident coincided with an Extraordinary Sadc Summit and was largely seen as political grandstanding.
Yesterday’s bombing coincides with the 17th Comesa Summit of Heads of State and Government opening today in the DRC.
Police expressed concern over increasing political violence within MDC-T.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police would like to confirm that MDC-T secretary-general Tendai Biti’s residence was petrol-bombed at 0105 on the 25th of February 2014,” said chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba.

“Police are investigating the circumstances in which unknown persons threw a bomb which hit and scorched a gate pillar at Biti’s Umwinsdale house. The unknown accused persons used an unidentified vehicle as a getaway car.”

Snr Asst Comm Charamba said the attack was further evidence of the “violent nature of MDC-T and comes after the recent attack on zanu-pf Machipisa offices and Jongwe Printers”.

“We are equally concerned with the utterances by MDC-T’s Nelson Chamisa during an interview with a local radio station where it seemed that certain political figures were against the reporting of political violence cases to police,” she said.

“Police would like to remind the public that they have a constitutional mandate to investigate crime. All individuals or political entities feigning violence will regret as the long arm of the law will catch up with them.”

A visit to Mr Biti’s house showed that an explosive device was thrown at the gate.
A security guard who identified himself as Jani was manning the gate when the incident occurred. He told The Herald the assailants were driving a twin-cab vehicle.

“It was just after 1am when I heard the sound of a vehicle which was passing. After about two minutes, I heard the sound of an explosion and I rushed outside to see what it was, and I only saw a twin cab speeding off,” he said.

Jani said he got the impression that the assailants knew the place well.
“I think they wanted to bomb the guard room but the explosive was stopped by the pillar. I informed Mr Biti who was sleeping in the main house together with his family and we made a police report at Borrowdale Police Station in the morning.

“A replay of the CCTV footage shows that the car was a twin-cab and had number plates though they are not visible.”
Mr Biti said he did not have any suspects.

“All I can say at the moment is that violence is unacceptable especially when it is targeted on innocent souls. My wife and children are sacred and I hope the investigations will be concluded and the culprits will be brought to book.”

Intra-party violence has rocked MDC-T for more than a decade and a commission of inquiry into the lawlesness in 2004 indicated Mr Tsvangirai’s involvement.

The inquiry – conducted by the late Dr Tichaona Mudzingwa, Mr Giles Mutsekwa and Mr Moses Mzila-Ndlovu – indicated that Mr Tsvangirai ordered former director of security in the party, Mr Peter Guhu, who had been assaulted not to report the assault case to the police.

A former head of department in the VIP protection unit, Mr Nhamo Musekiwa, is quoted in the report saying he believed violence was the only way of bringing people into line.

“Oh yes, it is a useful method because people always feign innocence when in actual fact they are guilty, so the best way is to beat them up until they admit,” Musekiwa was quoted as saying.

Indications then were that leaders set up factional militias and vigilante groups to mete out violence against rivals.