A member of parliament from Zimbabwe’s main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party, David Mpala, has died from apparent torture wounds, his party announced on Wednesday.
MDC spokesperson Paul Themba Nyathi said the lawmaker from the western Lupane constituency died on Tuesday, aged 48, at a hospital in his home area.
”A retired member of the police, Mpala’s health deteriorated over the past year after being tortured and stabbed by Zanu-PF supporters,” said Nyathi in a statement.
Nyathi alleged that, while campaigning for the Lupane parliamentary seat in April 2000, Mpala was abducted and severely beaten by a group of about 40 ruling Zanu-PF supporters.
In January 2002 he was abducted by another group of 20 alleged Zanu-PF supporters from a shopping centre in Lupane and dragged to a bush where he was brutally assaulted and stabbed in the chest, back and stomach.
”He never fully recovered from these injuries and his health deteriorated until his sad death yesterday,” said Nyathi.
”We mourn this hero of the struggle for peace and justice in Zimbabwe. His death will inspire us to fight harder to fulfill his dreams, as we know that the darkest hour comes before dawn,” he said.
His death brings the number of MDC legislators who have died since the 2000 parliamentary elections to five.
Some have died of natural illnesses, while one died of suspected poisoning while in police custody awaiting trial for the murder of his wife.
Two other legislators have since resigned: Mike Auret on medical grounds and Tafadzwa Musekiwa who sought political asylum in Britain saying he feared for his life.
Of the by-elections held so far, the MDC has won some and lost others, leaving it with 53 out of the 150 seats in parliament.
The run-up to both the 2000 parliamentary elections and the 2002 presidential election were characterised by violence.
MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai is legally challenging the presidential election victory by President Robert Mugabe, citing intimidation, violence and uneven electoral field. – Sapa-AFP