Headlands family lives in fear

In an interview at her homestead in Rusape, Mrs Ndaizivei Chapepa said she was afraid that some of the MDC-T supporters would return to raid her homestead.
“We are having sleepless nights and have since resorted to sleep during the day because of fear,” she said.
“We will be awake during the night just in case anything can happen.”

Mrs Chapepa appealed to senior Zanu-PF officials to ensure that there was security in the area.
“The police station is in Rusape and for police to come in time when they are needed is impossible because it is far away,” she said.

The Chapepa homestead is about 30km away from Rusape town and most of the people in the area face transport problems.
A neighbour, Mr Charles Williams said when Cde Chapepa was petrol-bombed, he heard the noise and went to investigate.
“When I went to his homestead, I found him sitting in the kitchen, in pain,” he said.
“He then naratted what had happened.”

Mr Williams said Cde Chapepa had once told him that the MDC-T secretary general for Headlands, Samson Magumura, had been threatening him, especially when they meet during some district meetings.

“He (Cde Chapepa) once told me that they met recently in Headlands and Magumura and some of his party supporters told him that he should be baptised and join MDC-T,” said Mr Williams.

Another villager, Mr Bernard Mawuye said: “We are worried about the incident and we are living in fear. I think something needs to be done for such cases not to occur again in this village.”

He urged the courts to ensure that the perpetrators of politically-motivated violence were given harsh deterrent sentences.
Cde Chapepa was on Thursday discharged from Rusape General Hospital where he had been admitted for the past two weeks.

He sustained burns on his legs after he was allegedly petrol-bombed by Magumura.

Magumura appeared at Rusape magistrates’ courts on Monday facing charges of petrol-bombing and seriously injuring Cde Chapepa and burning his vehicle.
He was charged with attempted murder and malicious damage to property when he appeared before Rusape provincial magistrate Mr Shingi Mutiro and was remanded in custody.