The state-sponsored violence that has gripped the country is not limited to remote rural areas only. The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) have reported that their members are experiencing death threats and intimidation at the hands of ZANU-PF activists and state security agents.

This week alone has seen several CHRA members abducted from their homes and many others visited and threatened with death. The association said their members are being targeted 'for organizing CHRA meetings'. They added that general residents in Harare have also been victimised.

A statement released Friday by CHRA said in part: "The Association condemns in the strongest terms the current retribution being unleashed on its members. CHRA members are being visited at their homes, threatened with death and some abducted."

This week alone a total of 5 members were abducted from their homes at night. This includes Tonderai Ndira, the Mabvuku CHRA activist who was abducted naked from Mabvuku by 9 armed men and a police officer.

The other 4 abducted this week are: Edith Mpofu, Tawanda Kalonga, Manuel Mawungira and Kenneth Nyathi. They were all CHRA officials from Kuwadzana Extension, Ward 44. In Mbare suburb of Harare, a CHRA committee member named Mrs Mandara was visited by 10 ZANU-PF activists and threatened with death.

The government is targeting MDC supporters as well as civil society organisations and anyone else that they can blame for the ruling party's loss in the March elections. The Tsvangirai MDC won overwhelmingly in the local council elections and for the first time ever opposition parties are the majority in parliament. The ongoing violence is without a doubt retribution for this loss.