The Sunday News
THE Insiza land scandal turned bloody yesterday afternoon when rural district council chairperson Councillor Daniel Mpofu allegedly stabbed two Zanu-PF officials with a suspected Okapi knife while some youths used a knobkerrie and a whip to beat party members who were attending a meeting meant to facilitate the eviction of people who illegally bought land in the area.
Ironically, Clr Mpofu has been at the forefront of calling for the arrest of people linked to a scandal where land was illegally sold to desperate individuals for prices ranging from $500 to $1 000 or a single beast.
Cdes Clifford Machona and Mkhululi Ncube were nursing their wounds at United Bulawayo Hospitals last night while Mr Elijah Makhulumo, whose left hand was fractured, was struggling to raise $50 for an X-ray at the same hospital. Several others sought treatment after they had their backs whipped.
Cde Machona, whose grey trousers was stained with blood, said Clr Mpofu instigated “his youths” to beat him after he asked why he came to his ward to address a meeting without informing him.
“I am the Zanu-PF ward 22 chairperson. There is no one who can come and address a meeting in my ward without advising me. I stood and asked Mpofu, who was in the company of Denis Ndlovu, to give me an explanation on who gave him the permission to hold a meeting,” he said.
“He suddenly instigated his youths to beat us. One of them struck me on the back with a knobkerrie and Mpofu stabbed me. I became powerless and fell down and began to bleed before headman Dladla took me to hospital.”
Cde Machona is one of the villagers who has a pending case on charges of illegally selling land.
Mr Makhulumo said he was beaten after he tried to rescue Cde Machona.
“Today Lochard became a war zone. The people who beat me I know them and I am waiting for the proper time to mention their names. But, the matter is that it was Mpofu who told his youths to beat us after saying we were dogs. The hospital is asking me to pay $50 to undergo an X-ray but I don’t have the money,” Mr Makhulumo said.
When our news crew visited Lochard, scores of people were still gathered at the place where the incident took place.
Ms Nomangala Mathe said she was struck with a knobkerrie after she openly supported Cde Machona’s sentiments.
She said: “I will have to go and see the doctor because I am not feeling well. I was beaten for openly supporting the chairman’s sentiments. They used a knobkerrie while some kicked me. We are tired of these meetings which are not productive and above all, they are not properly organised.”
Headman Nkosiyabo Dladla, who took Machona to the hospital, said he was at a loss for words because the land issue was not supposed to be dealt with in such a manner.
“I only came after Machona was stabbed. When I saw him lying down I had to assist him because he was losing a lot of blood. We thank God because his life was in danger,” he said.
Police at Mbembesi, where the matter was reported, said their officers who attended the scene were yet to report back to the station.
Repeated efforts to get a comment from Clr Mpofu were fruitless as he was not picking his mobile phone.
Clr Mpofu recently appeared before a Bulawayo magistrate facing charges of abuse of office after he allegedly demanded a bribe from a land developer. Clr Mpofu is being accused of demanding bribes from Mr Nicholas Masuku of N and S Properties, whom he allegedly promised residential stands in Filabusi.
