Assaulted cadre vows to support party

Cde Ruponga said he would not be intimidated by Mr Chinyadza and his supporters from supporting Zanu-PF but that the assault had actually strengthened his political resolve.
“I was attacked by Chinyadza and his three colleagues on Friday as I was coming from a Zanu-PF rally at Mukuviri business centre.

“I was approaching my village when Chinyadza and his colleagues pounced on me and started assaulting me,” he said.
The three other accused are Sheila Mufambisi, Brighton Mufambisi and another unidentified man.

“I was struck once on the head with an iron bar and I fell on the ground. I sustained a deep cut on the head and got five stitches from Rusape General Hospital where I was treated after the attack.

“My left eye was also bruised. I have a terrible headache and my vision is partially impaired because of the assault,” he said.
He said he would not hesitate to wear his Zanu-PF regalia because it is the party he has chosen for himself and he is not shy or afraid to be associated with it.

“I will not support people who have beaten me. I will continue supporting my party because it is the people’s party that we have known since independence,” said Cde Ruponga.
“I am not shy or afraid to be associated with Zanu-PF because I made the decision on my own a long time ago,” he said.

He said he started supporting Zanu-PF in the 1980’s after realising its sound policies towards black empowerment, to which he was a beneficiary.
“I got my first job as a special constabulary through Zanu-PF. This was soon after completion of my secondary education. Since then I have been supporting Zanu-PF,” said Cde Ruponga.

Efforts to get comment from Mr Chinyadza were fruitless.
Police chief spokesperson, Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed the incident and investigations were underway as the perpetrators were still at large.

The MDC-T has been on the warpath since last year with over 48 cases of violence being recorded countrywide.
According to police, in all the recorded cases, MDC-T supporters were at the forefront of attacking their colleagues or those from other political parties, especially Zanu-PF.
The party has also attacked journalists who do not toe its line with MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai threatening to deal with them if his party wins the elections.