In
a
statement,
the
CDF
said
the
men,
who
appeared
heavily
intoxicated
and
extremely
aggressive,
assaulted
Biti’s
driver
and
the
women
with
him,
beating
them
with
batons
while
brandishing
what
looked
like
AK-47
rifles.
The
driver
was
left
injured
in
the
attack.
Reads
the
statement:
“During
this
attack,
the
assailants
loudly
declared
that
CDF
will
not
launch
in
Zimbabwe
and
repeatedly
threatened
that
they
were
going
to
kill
Hon.
Tendai
Biti.“They
further
stated
that
they
had
full
knowledge
of
CDF’s
activities
and
chillingly
warned
that
they
would
‘do
more
than
what
was
done
to
Professor
Lovemore
Madhuku.’“After
the
group
appeared
to
have
dispersed,
Hon.
Biti
left
his
office,
accompanied
by
other
CDF
leaders.
Moments
later,
three
vehicles
suddenly
emerged
and
began
following
their
car.“At
this
moment,
we
are
extremely
concerned
because
we
have
lost
contact
with
them
and
cannot
ascertain
their
safety
or
whereabouts.“As
if
this
was
not
alarming
enough,
additional
vehicles,
including
unmarked
cars,
police
vehicles,
and
officers
both
in
uniform
and
in
plain
clothes,
have
now
surrounded
our
Convener’s
offices
and
the
entire
street
area.“It
has
also
become
extremely
difficult
to
obtain
pictures
or
document
what
is
happening,
as
suspected
State
vehicles
are
parked
throughout
the
area,
and
the
individuals
involved
are
aggressively
charging
at
anyone
who
attempts
to
approach
our
Convener’s
law
firm.“Even
clients
visiting
the
law
offices
are
not
being
spared
from
intimidation
and
harassment.”
CDF
said
the
developments
are
deeply
troubling,
raising
serious
concerns
for
the
safety
of
Tendai
Biti
and
those
with
him.
The
forum
added
that
this
incident
occurs
in
a
context
where
activists
and
political
leaders
opposing
the
2030
constitutional
agenda
have
recently
been
subjected
to
abductions,
torture,
assaults,
and
intimidation.
It
said:
“Given
Zimbabwe’s
painful
history,
we
cannot
and
will
not
treat
such
threats
lightly.
The
patterns,
the
vehicles,
the
methods,
and
the
language
used
by
these
attackers
bear
the
hallmarks
of
operations
Zimbabweans
have
tragically
witnessed
before.
History
has
taught
us
what
this
system
is
capable
of.”
CDF
has
called
on
Zimbabweans
to
remain
vigilant
and
urged
regional
bodies,
including
SADC
and
the
African
Union,
to
take
urgent
note
of
these
developments
and
closely
monitor
the
safety
of
Biti
and
all
CDF
leaders.