Human Rights Forum Report: Who was responsible? supporters who were running towards me for help. They realised who I was and began coming to me with weapons saying, “Burn the car”. I got out of my car and drew my firearm. They all rushed back and got into their truck. The driver wanted to speed off. I stopped the vehicle. They were farm labourers from Zhanda‟s farm. Some were women. I managed to hold them until the police arrived and escorted them to Shamva police station. There were twelve people identified as having been trouble causers. They were arrested, but were released the same day. Apparently Zhanda and Border Gezi went to Shamva and got them. There are some police officers who are sympathetic and they told me what happened. The member in charge just said he had instructions from above to release them and there is no docket and no charges. I have come through hell on earth. In April, we had booked a rally through the police in Mount Darwin. I am the national co-ordinator for Mashonaland Central so I do rallies in other constituencies to beef up support. We travelled to Mount Darwin the day before the rally and we wanted to put up in town. There were about 300 of us. We were stopped just before we reached there by the police and told to wait until their bosses would come and tell us why it was not safe to proceed. These people were supposed to come from the police station about 10 kms away. After waiting 40 minutes or so we decided to go to the police station to check why we were being told to wait. When we got to the police station we were told by the member in charge that Zanu (PF) doesn‟t want us to have a rally; that Mount Darwin is a no-go area for MDC. We protested that it was unlawful; that the police had given the go-ahead for the rally and we wanted them to cover it. We were not allowed to leave the police camp and we slept there overnight. At 5:30 am, the Zanu (PF) youths came to the camp. We discovered that the member in charge had notified Kasukuwere that MDC were at the police camp. There were about 40 youths toyi toying and chanting slogans and more were said to be behind. In the morning, the police told us to give them time. They said they needed more manpower so we decided to go to Rushinga for breakfast. We arrived in Rushinga and had food there. The police from Mount Darwin must have been telling Zanu (PF) to bring more people as they had seen our number. The member in charge in Rushinga is professional. He called me and told me that Zanu (PF) had mounted an ambush about 20 km from Mount Darwin and he was right. We decided to proceed as there was no other route to get to Mount Darwin. When we were approaching the spot we saw lots of police officers in Santana and Defender police vehicles. There must have been about nine. They had been sent from Bindura, Rushinga, Shamva and Dotito. They were the reinforcements that had been called from all over. The police told us to stop and we did. There were Zanu (PF) youths by the roadside throwing stones at us. There must have been about 600. Later the police told us that they had been taken from other constituencies. There were running battles between Zanu (PF) and MDC. The police fired tear gas and live bullets in the air. Zanu (PF) was also firing guns. Eventually the Zanu (PF) youths ran away. Little did we know that there had been two CIOs sent from the President’s Office to assassinate me. I was in my car at first, but then got out and was on foot with the police. Then as we moved a distance away from the ambush a Nissan pick up came out of the bushes and hit my car. They had been waiting for the confusion so that they could do this. They had planned to hit my vehicle and both of them would turn and then they would fire. In fact that is what happened. They hit my car but it didn‟t overturn. It was being driven by my driver, Timothy Mukwengwe. There was a period when the two cars were spinning and hitting each other like in a movie. They damaged the front bumper and headlights. But when they realised I wasn‟t in it they sped off. The CIOs must have called for more reinforcements. As we went towards Mount Darwin, there were four pick-ups and a maroon Mercedes which belongs to Kasukuwere waiting for us. There was another truck with Zanu (PF) supporters in it, about 80 of them armed with iron rods and other weapons. They were coming from Mount Darwin. They sped past us and made a U turn near the Mount Darwin-Rushinga turn off. I was now driving my car again. Then the same car that smashed my car the first time now drove into the Toyota Hilux, which is also mine, and (name withheld) was driving. Then they blocked the road and four of them pulled their pistols, including Kasukuwere. Then they began smashing the windscreens of vehicles. (name withheld)‟s car was very close when Kasukuwere hit him. He was injured in his eye during the smashing of the glass with iron bars. Another man was beating people in a truck. Kasukuwere personally tried to open the doors to beat the driver and his assistant, but the door was locked from inside and he couldn‟t get in. By then of all the vehicles only mine was not smashed. The people on the back had run away. I saw him [Kasukuwere]. He was looking at me. I had my gun ready inside the car, but I don‟t think they could see it. That was when the army arrived. An army helicopter was hovering and then it landed. Three army officers jumped out. They ordered everyone to lie down and everyone complied except Kasukuwere. He was asked to identify himself and he said he was a candidate for Zanu (PF). They told him that they don‟t belong to Zanu (PF) and he must lie down and he did obey. They beat him and disarmed him. They said to Kasukuwere, “We were watching you and you are the main culprit”. The army beat three Zanu (PF) members, but no one from MDC. Another truck then arrived full of Zanu (PF) and they were stopped and asked to disembark and lie down on the ground. We were then allowed to proceed and the army instructed the police to escort us to Bindura. Kasukuwere was ordered to be locked up in the cells, but he was set free at the police station. Many of our guys had run away when the army arrived fearing them. I was still there 15