Elderly Mum of Zim Critic Snatched and Dumped

Six armed men grabbed a 73-year-old woman from her home Friday night. The men wanted to find her son, Gifford Gomwe. They broke into the house and threatened the family. The woman is the mother of suspended Zanu PF member Godwin Gomwe. Armed men forced her into an unmarked truck around 8 pm.

The attackers searched for Gifford because he opposes President Mnangagwa. Gifford fights against plans to extend the president's time in office. The men threatened to burn down the house. They made the elderly woman tell them where Gifford was hiding. Audio recordings captured the threats against her life.

The woman had no food or medicine during her ordeal. The attackers planned to take her to a rural area. They wanted to use her as leverage against her son. The men dumped her near a police checkpoint on the main highway. Officers at the roadblock called her family after finding her walking alone.

Police filed a report about the kidnapping at Budiriro Police Station. Human rights groups want officials to investigate the incident. Godwin Gomwe and nine other party members face suspension for opposing government plans. The attack appears to target families of political opponents.