Zimbabwe opposition mourns its dead

Whites are not the only victims of political violence

A mourning ceremony was held on Thursday in the Zimbabwean capital, Harare, for two opposition supporters killed in a petrol bomb attack on 15 April.

Supporters of the ruling Zanu-PF party, chanting party slogans, chased foreign reporters away from the ceremony and slashed the tyre of one media car.

Tsvangirai will attend his driver's funeral

The two victims, Tichaona Chiminya and Talent Mbika, belonged to the Movement for Democratic Change, led by Morgan Tsvangirai.

Talent Mbika was buried on Thursday morning, but Mr Chiminya's funeral was postponed to Friday, so that Mr Tsvangirai could attend it after his return from a foreign tour.

Car attacked

Mr Chiminya had recently been appointed driver to Mr Tsvangirai.

The two victims had left a meeting in Murambinda, in the eastern province of Manicaland, when the road along which they were driving was blocked by a Zanu-PF car.

A passenger travelling with Mr Chiminya said that men carrying AK-47 rifles and iron bars began attacking their car with Molotov cocktails.

MDC supporters mourn the victims

Several passengers managed to get out, but Mr Chiminya and Mr Mbika had locked their doors and were unable to escape. They were burned to death.

Police said they had opened an investigation into the killings, which came on the same day that a white farmer, David Stevens, was shot dead in the continuing dispute over land.