Police investigate attack on opposition politician’s home

The main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), on Monday accused ruling party militants of torching the homestead of one of its officials who won a court challenge last week to his defeat in last year’s parliamentary elections, news reports said.

Richard Chadya was quoted as saying that his homestead in northeastern Zimbabwe was set ablaze on Saturday, two days after the High Court nullified June’s parliamentary election results in his Hurungwe district. Police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena was quoted as saying that a report of the arson attack had been received and investigations were continuing.

The court said ruling party lawmaker Reuben Marumahoko won through political intimidation and violence.
The court also nullified two other ruling party victories on the same grounds on Thursday and Friday in the first of 38 poll results being contested by the opposition. All three ruling party lawmakers will retain their seats pending appeals to the Supreme Court.