By Brilliant Pongo
28 March 2008

Riot police were called in Friday to stop youths from playing anti-Mugabe songs and distributing election material in Bikita.
Madock Chivasa, Hillary Zhou, Farirai Mageza, Simbai Chivasa, Leonard Musimiki and five others were arrested in the afternoon at Bikita rural growth point. Police have not yet specified any charges and there are fears that they will be held till after the elections.

The youth are said to have been distributing educative election material and playing music that encouraged people to vote against Zanu PF. Newsreel spoke to a member of the youth group, Wellington Zindove, who confirmed that the youths had been arrested and are still in police custody. “They were playing a song that spoke of Saddam Hussain’s demise and that Mugabe would be next. The song is titled Saddam wayenda sare Bobo, Saddam is gone Bob is next. This did not go down well with the police”. Zindove said.

On Wednesday four members of the same youth group were viciously attacked by a Zanu PF mob in Bikita. Musimiki, Chisi, Petros Mutema and Justin Mabucha had successfully completed a ‘Youth Go Vote Campaign’ in seven constituencies in rural Zaka and Bikita. A Zanu PF mob at Nyika Growth Point however decided to attack them. Petros Mutema, a young entrepreneur who is said to have financed the ‘Youth Go Vote’ crusade, was amongst those attacked.

The youth are pointing the finger at a notorious Zanu PF member and army Brigadier Rungani, who has masterminded a reign of terror in the district. He is blamed for directing the violent Zanu PF mob to attack the youths, especially Mutema. On Friday the youths vowed the attacks will not deter them from their work.

In a press release the group says “The Youth Forum is pleased with the results of the Youth Go Vote campaign carried out in the rural areas, which has seen a huge attendance by young people at opposition rallies, including the one addressed by the MDC President Mr. Morgan Tsvangirai at Majembere Stadium at Bikita Rural District offices.’