HARARE - Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) secretary-general Tendai Biti’s Umwinsidale home was petrol bombed by unknown assailants early yesterday morning.
The former Finance minister told the Daily News that unidentified men threw an explosive device at the security wall of his house in the leafy Harare suburb.
“This is the second time that my house has been bombed and the trauma that my wife and kids are facing is unacceptable,” Biti said.
“The people who are responsible for this must be brought to book.
There should be no room for violence in our society.”
Biti said he reported the case at Borrowdale Police Station.
Charity Charamba, the police spokesperson, confirmed the matter was reported to the police and investigations were underway.
In 2011, Biti’s house in the Grange suburb of Harare was petrol-bombed.
The latest attack, comes at a time the lawyer-cum-politician was almost manhandled by MDC youths at the party headquarters
together with Elton Mangoma — who is calling for leadership renewal in the beleaguered party.
Biti, who described the attack as “so surreal” refused to apportion blame on anyone for the petrol-bombing, which was captured on his home’s CCTV footage.
“If you are seen to be challenging the system, these things are bound to happen,” Biti said without specifying which system. But I would rather the people put a petrol bomb in my car and not the house where my family is.”
A Daily News crew witnessed a badly-charred wall and members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police conducting forensic
investigations.
According to a CCTV footage seen by this newspaper, a car is seen approaching Biti’s house at 01:06 am and then zooms past the house. Two minutes later, the car then
approaches Biti’s residence from another direction and briefly stops at the gate.
“A petrol bomb is then hurled, causing an explosion near the gate. The car then speeds off.
A security detail who was on duty inside the guard-house then emerges, running for dear life.
He said he initially suspected it was electric wires that had short circuited since it was drizzling at the time.
“However, I was shocked to see a huge flame on the wall. During that time, I heard a car fleeing from the scene,” said the guard, who declined to be named.