From Zim Online (SA), 26 January

Insiza – An opposition candidate in the March election escaped unhurt after he was shot at here last weekend by ruling Zanu PF party supporters allegedly on the orders of Deputy Minister of Transport, Andrew Langa. Langa, who is the sitting Member of Parliament (MP) for Insiza, about 120 kilometres south of Bulawayo, is also the Zanu PF candidate for the area in the March poll. He was in the area campaigning when he met the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party’s Siyabonga Malandu, who was also canvassing for support. The MP allegedly ordered his younger brother and his driver, who were part of a group of supporters he was travelling with, to shoot at Malandu and his supporters. Neither Malandu nor his supporters were injured because of the shooting although three youths who were part of the opposition group were assaulted. Malandu said: “We met a convoy of seven Zanu PF cars, including Langa’s personal car. They blocked and insulted us. Langa then ordered his team to shoot us. His brother Danny and driver Patrick Hove then opened fire. Our youths fled but three were caught and were beaten up.” The shooting incident was reported and entered as crime record number 717273 at Filabusi police station in the area. Langa could not be reached for comment while police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena refused to comment on the matter. The Zanu PF parliamentarian reclaimed the Insiza seat from the MDC in a violence-marred by-election in 2002. Langa was also accused of shooting to death an MDC activist, Darlington Kadengu, during the run-up to the by-election. A petition by the MDC challenging Langa’s victory in that by-election is still pending at the courts. The MDC has threatened to boycott the March poll unless the political playing field is levelled and political violence ended.

Source: WWW.ZwNews.Com