Bombing of Zanu-PF offices condemned

They described the bombing as a desperate move by the party’s enemies to portray a false impression that the political playing field was neither even nor conducive for the holding of elections next year.
Unknown assailants bombed the Zanu-PF provincial headquarters along Seventh Street in Gweru on Wednesday night and police investigations into the case are still ongoing.
In an interview yesterday, Cde Machaya, who is also the Midlands Provincial Governor and Resident Minister, said the bombing of the party offices was an unfortunate event that should be condemned by all the three principals in the inclusive Government and the general public.
“The bombing of our offices on Wednesday night was an unfortunate incident which we believe was an act of some rogue elements within the other political parties, meant to give a wrong impression to their western handlers. They want to use it as an excuse to postpone elections on the pretext that the political field is not conducive for the holding of elections slated for next year. We all know this is not true,” he said.
Cde Machaya said the three principals in the inclusive Government, President Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister, Professor Arthur Mutambara should condemn the bombing of the Zanu-PF offices in Gweru.
“We expect all the three principals in the inclusive Government to strongly condemn the bombing of the Zanu-PF offices. We want other partners to genuinely speak against these violent activities which the President is on record denouncing,” he said.
Cde Machaya said Zimbabweans were a peace loving people.
He said the holding of elections next year was the only way to end sporadic violent incidents which have been witnessed in the country.
“We know other political parties, which are afraid of elections, have perpetrated these violent incidents. They want to destabilise the prevailing peace in the country so as to discredit the holding of elections set to be held anytime soon. They will, however, not succeed and we hope the principals in the inclusive Government will continue to genuinely condemn violence as we head towards these crucial elections,” he said.
Cde Machaya said the bombing of the Zanu-PF offices was the first such attack on a political institution in the province.
“In the Midlands we have been enjoying a violence-free environment. This incident is the first of its kind in the province and we do not expect such unfortunate incidents to be repeated,” he said.
Zanu-PF Politburo member and former Midlands Governor, Cde Cephas Msipa, said the bombing incident shocked Zanu-PF members and Zimbabweans at large.
“The perpetrators of this deed are evil-minded they should be isolated when caught. Zimbabweans are peace-loving people and the incident did not only annoy us as Zanu-PF members but also stunned our peace loving citizens as well. We hope the police are doing their investigations to flush out the perpetrators who should be jailed, if proven guilty,” he said.
The party’s provincial administrator, Cde Passmore Washaya, said Zanu-PF was a revolutionary party that could not be deterred from its core business of defending the sovereignty of the country by the bombing of its offices.
He said the Zanu-PF offices had since reopened for business as the country was about to enter the crucial phase of preparing for elections scheduled for next year.
“We have since resumed operations and our offices are now open for normal business. It is important that we continue with our operations while the police conclude their investigations,” said Cde Washaya.
Meanwhile, police spokesperson for Midlands, Inspector Patrick Chademana said investigations into the bombing of Zanu-PF offices were still under way.
Insp Chademana said no arrests had been made so far.
“The forensic team from Harare attended to the scene and they have taken samples. We are waiting for their results while investigations on the ground are in progress,” he said.