HARARE – Four plain clothed men driving on cars with no number plates stormed a Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) press briefing in Harare on Saturday morning and wrestled the opposition’s spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi in full glare of dozens of shell-shocked journalists.

The brazen abduction attempt was staged as Mkwananzi was briefing the media over a slew of poll-based violations that have marred the August 23 election by the ruling Zanu PF party and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).

The incident happened at Dr Ibbo Mandaza’s SAPES Trust premises on the outskirts of Harare’s CBD.

A tense environment has followed the holding of the Zimbabwe poll amid uncertainty on the political climate when presidential results are eventually announced.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police has been condemned by international election observer groups for arresting 41 Election Resource Centre (ERC) and Zimbabwe Election Support Network observers and volunteers who were recording information on the outcome of the election on Wednesday.

In what could be a change of strategy by the under-fire Zanu PF led administration, unidentified men suspected to be members of the infamous Forever Associates of Zimbabwe (FAZ) were dispatched to carry out the primitive act on Saturday.

FAZ, seen as a quasi-state intelligence group affiliated to Zanu PF, has been extensively criticised by the opposition and civil society organisations for conducting both covert and overt operations to manipulate the election in favour of the ruling party.

During the drama on Saturday, the intruders grabbed Mkwananzi’s papers while he was addressing the media.

The four manhandled the opposition official while three of their colleagues were stationed in three getaway vehicles parked outside the premises.

Shocked journalists who filmed the drama questioned the rogues, demanding to know their identities and what prompted their rowdy behaviour.

The rogues, who did not make any attempt to cover their faces to conceal their identity, refused to answer questions when they were confronted by journalists.

They then sped off from the scene in movie style.

They were driving in a black Mazda bt-50 4×4 and a white Ford Ranger double cab, and a single cable white Toyota GD6 with both vehicles without plates.

A third vehicle displayed vehicle registration number AFC 013.

CCC condemned the incident by “Zanu PF thugs”.

“The disruptive team arrived in three vehicles: a Ford Ranger, Mazda BT50, and Toyota Hilux.

“Their purpose was to disrupt our peaceful press conference. We strongly condemn this unacceptable violent behaviour by Zanu PF thugs.

“It is disheartening to note that while they held their own press conferences without disturbance, our event was targeted. Furthermore, the involvement of law enforcement in leading this group is both sad and regrettable.”

This incident comes after regional and international observers from SADC, the African Union, and the European Union criticized FAZ’s illegal operations and voter intimidation as one of the elements that compromised the integrity and legitimacy of Wednesday’s election.