On 13 May 2008, Charles Thole and James Mushayi were reportedly abducted by ZANU PF supporters in Kotwa, Mudzi. They were held hostage and reportedly tortured at a ZANU PF base at the Muzezuru Primary School before being freed with the help of a lawyer and members of the police. MP elect for Mudzi North, Newten Kapecha, is suspected of having instigated the torture. He also reportedly confiscated the accreditation cards and ZESN t-shirts of eight other ZESN observers.
