Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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December 16, 2008

Mugabe Ally Wounded in Zimbabwe Shooting
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=210AB16:A6F02AD83191E160A52D52B49B0EDDCE2E7CA1C1B166B639&
 
State media reports Air Marshall Perence Shiri was allegedly shot in
hand while driving to farm near Harare, which he seized from white
farmer several years ago 
The Zimbabwe government says there has been an attempt on the life of
its air force chief, Perence Shiri, who survived the ambush by gunmen
who shot him in the hand. The news follows accusations by the government
that the Movement for Democratic Change is training militants in
neighboring Botswana. State media reports that Air Marshall Perence
Shiri was allegedly shot in the hand while driving to a farm near
Harare, which he seized from a white farmer several years ago. Home
affairs minister Kembo Mohadi said the attack appears to be a build-up
of terror attacks targeting high-profile people and government
officials. He did not provide details. Crime is on an upswing as
Zimbabwe runs out of food and money. Shiri was in charge of the
notorious Fifth Brigade of the Zimbabwe National Army in the 1980s when
thousands of opposition supporters, who were also from the minority
Ndebele tribe, were murdered on government orders. He is reported to be
in the hospital in stable condition. The government is accusing the
Movement for Democratic Change of training what it calls "bandits" in
Botswana, charges denied by the MDC and the Botswana government.

Abductions continue Meanwhile, abductions in Zimbabwe continue. The
latest known to have been kidnapped is Shadreck Manyere, a well-known
Harare photojournalist, who was taken Saturday from Norton, a small town
about 30 kilometers north of Harare. His wife says he had gone to Norton
to have his vehicle repaired. After her husband's disappearance, she
said police came to the couple's house and took away his equipment.
Lawyers looking into Manyere's disappearance and the disappearance of
nearly 30 others, say they have no information about the whereabouts of
their clients, even though the police have been ordered by the High
Court to produce them. Among those also kidnapped is Zimbabwe Peace
Project Director Jestina Mukoko and three of her colleagues. About 23
officials and supporters of the MDC have also been snatched.

Rights groups deem 2008 most violent for Zimbabwe Human rights monitors
say 2008 is proving to be the most violent year during the past 20 in
Zimbabwe. Since the March 29 elections at least 200 people have been
killed, thousands of MDC supporters injured and their homes destroyed,
and an unknown number of informal diamond miners have been attacked by
security forces. Hopes for an inclusive government following the
September political agreement signed by the country's main political
leaders, have faded. Political analysts say internal tensions are rising
with shortages of food, cash, and an ongoing cholera epidemic that has
claimed nearly 1,000 lives since August.