The Sunday News
Sunday News Reporter
A NEW Lobengula woman who was employed in the MDC offices, working as a logistics assistant responsible for organizing rallies, printing membership cards and sorting refreshments during rallies, is reportedly living a nightmare following the disappearance of her partner.
Sarah Winie Zikhali, was working at the party offices in New Lobengula after being referred by her partner, Alifas Nderi, an active member of the party who was responsible for the recruitment of new party members.
Alifas Nderi
Due to his activities, Nderi has reportedly had many run-ins with authorities and had also been attacked, together with Zikhali, with the assailants each time threatening, telling him to stop his recruitment activities.
All hell broke loose for Zikhali following Nderi’s supposed arrest after they convened an illegal meeting in Bulawayo’s Central Business District.
“Zikhali and Nderi have been together for some time and because of this relationship Nderi eventually helped get Zikhali a job within the MDC offices in New Lobengula where she was a logistics assistant.
“On the day in question Nderi and some party members in the province, inclusive of one Gomba convened a meeting at the party offices in town. It is at this meeting that they were rounded up by the police and detained for convening an illegal meeting,” said a relative to Zikhali who declined to be named.
It has further emerged that Gomba was released by the police on that particular day but as for Nderi his whereabouts are not known.
“Naturally, Nderi being her partner, Zikhali reported the matter to the police, of which this was not the first time that she had been to the police, as the couple had previously reported the attacks and threats they had been receiving for Nderi to stop his recruitment activities.
“The police dismissed her attempts to report the matter, as they said Zikhali was trying to divert attention following their initial reports to the police had been dismissed as not having any proof,” said the relative.
“Things however reached fever pitch when, after her failed attempt to report the matter, she (Zikhali) was kidnapped and attacked by unknown assailants who were demanding to know the whereabouts of Nderi, they actually accused her of hiding him,” added the relative.
According to the relative, Zikhali was later dumped in Nkulumane with her attackers warning her that whenever Nderi made contact she should immediately report to the police.
“Zikhali has insisted to us that she last spoke with Nderi on the phone after his arrest, where he had said he wants to see her and that they were not safe. Now our sister is living in fear, not even sure what to do or who to turn to, even the party seems not to be interested at assisting her, their employee,” said the relative.
