VIOLENCE broke out between Zanu PF and opposition MDC
youths in Mbare yesterday, a day after the opposition leader Nelson Chamisa
addressed supporters in the volatile suburb.
Three MDC supporters were reportedly arrested while Zanu PF
claimed three of its youth leaders were hospitalised after the violent clashes.
Zanu PF district co-ordinating committee secretary for
youth affairs, Emmanuel Mahachi, said violence broke out after suspected MDC
youths attacked ruling party cadres during a clean-up exercise.
“There was a clean-up campaign and in the process, they
passed through a place where some were not happy with the programme. They
started throwing stones, attacking them. I was shocked by the reaction,” he
alleged.
“We called police to the place and they arrived to calm
down the situation. People were injured including the secretary for environment
who was leading the programme, secretary for health and one of our youths. They
were taken to hospital,” he said.
“A report was made at Matapi Police Station.” However, MDC youth secretary for Harare province Denford
Ngadziore blamed Zanu PF youths for the violence.
“Zanu PF pretended to be mobilising its supporters for a
clean-up campaign but later went to the market operated by MDC youths and
vandalised property,” Ngadziore said.
“MDC youths went to report the matter at Matapi Police
Station but they were detained. We are not surprised by Zanu PF’s actions. We
have a duty to stop this now and forever.”
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul
Nyathi confirmed the skirmishes, but said the details were still sketchy.
“Police are investigating issues said to have happened in
Mbare but currently details are not yet clear so we will only be able to shed
light in due course,” Nyathi said.
When NewsDay visited Mbare in the afternoon yesterday, MDC
youths were being addressed by local legislator Starman Chamisa after the
violent clashes.
The MDC youths said the violent clashes started when Zanu
PF mobilised for a meeting at their party offices in the area before attacking
a building occupied by opposition members where they allegedly pulled down the
party flag.
“They came mobilising vendors for a meeting and when they
got here, they started throwing stones, destroying the building. People where
not happy with their actions and retaliated and they fled the scene. They
reinforced and came back and police managed to calm the situation,” one of the
MDC youths said.
The opposition party later released a statement saying Zanu
PF youths armed with machetes and logs went on the rampage in Mbare,
indiscriminately attacking residents.
“The Zanu PF youths (ran) amok and wreaked havoc by
attacking residents and dispersing any group of innocent residents going about
their business,” deputy party spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka said in a
statement.
At the time of going to print, MP Chamisa was
reportedlyholed up in a police station, hiding from the marauding gang who were
“baying” for his blood. Newsday
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