JUSTICE IN ZIMBABWE 86 ____________________________________________________________________ saying that it had “taken over the mantle of violence that Hitler unleashed on his people, bludgeoning them into submission”.139 High-ranking ZANU (PF) officials, such as the Minister of Home Affairs, uttered statements denouncing the murder, clearly attributing responsibility for the death to the MDC and describing the MDC as a terrorist party. Vice-President Msika said of the party: “If they are looking for a bloodbath, they will get it.”140 President Mugabe threatened to crush the MDC after blaming the party for the kidnapping and killing of Cain Nkala. ZANU (PF) members then went out to revenge this killing and violence swept Bulawayo. On 16 November 2001 a crowd of about 300 ZANU (PF) youths and war veterans, reportedly escorted by the police, went on the rampage attacking people in the streets and destroying copies of the Daily News. The MDC offices were set on fire and destroyed with petrol bombs. In turn MDC members set fire to a building belonging to a senior ZANU (PF) official and burnt two cars before the police restored order. The arrests Fourteen members of MDC were originally arrested in connection with the Cain Nkala killing. Amongst those arrested were Fletcher Dulini Ncube, a Bulawayo Member of Parliament and the national treasurer of the MDC, and Simon Spooner, who is the adviser to Bulawayo Member of Parliament, David Coltart. They were held in custody for several weeks. Several months later the charges were withdrawn against Simon Spooner. Two members of the MDC later appeared in court on allegations of kidnapping and alleged that they were beaten by the police into confessing that they had carried out the murder. One of the MDC members accused of killing Nkala showed the court wounds on his arm where he alleged that Nkala bit him. However it was later reported that a doctor had testified that the wound was not caused by a bite. On the evening of 13 November 2001 the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation screened television footage showing two MDC men under arrest leading the police to