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the cancellation of primary elections in some constituencies as supporters traded blows. Aspiring MDC-T candidate for Kadoma Central Mrs Chipo Chinamhora was assaulted on Saturday at a primary elections venue in the town after the
exercise was delayed by over six hours before being called off.
The primaries were also called off in Insiza South, Matabeleland, on Saturday after supporters of a disqualified hopeful started assaulting their rivals.
In the Midlands, the Gweru Urban primary elections for councillors were marred by violence as members accused each other of vote buying and rigging.
The clashes come against the backdrop of death threats that have landed a sitting legislator Mr Pishayi Muchauraya of Makoni South in court, while the party’s secretary for defence who is also Public Housing and Social Amenities Minister Giles Mutsekwa recently handed himself to the police in the wake of violent scenes that led to the postponement of primaries in Chikanga, Mutare.
In the Kadoma incident, prospective voters endured a long wait that degenerated into violence after the MDC-T election team from Harare suggested postponement.
The primaries were scheduled to start at 10am and at least 500 people had gathered hoping to choose their candidate and were disappointed as only Mrs Chinamhora was at the venue.
The incumbent, Mrs Editor Matamisa, only emerged when the Harare team arrived. This infuriated Mrs Chinamhora’s supporters who felt Mrs Matamisa was being kept abreast of developments by the team while their candidate was in the dark.
“These people (Mrs Matamisa’s camp) planned this whole thing so that they can frustrate us into leaving and then conduct elections while we are gone,” said a furious supporter.
As some supporters registered their complaints with the team, one of Mrs Matamisa’s supporters who was only identified as Eddie allegedly slapped Mrs Chinamhora, triggering violence.
Both candidates could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Mashonaland West provincial police spokesperson Inspector Clemence Mabgweazara said they were looking into the matter.
“Its information that we have gathered from our officers on the ground but there is no formal report that was made to the police by the person that is alleged to have been attacked,” he said.
In Gweru, reports of vote-buying and rigging triggered violence yesterday.
The party’s supporters blocked Mr Piniel Denga (MDC-T Mashonaland East chairman) who had come to supervise the polls.
Mr Denga, who is the sitting MP for Mbare constituency, was beaten by Mr Eric Knight during the party primary elections for the Harare seat.
Mr Denga was barred from entering Gafa grounds in Mtapa residential area, the venue of the polls.
Party members were chanting slogans denouncing the Deputy Minister of Local, Government, Rural and Urban Development Mr Sesil Zvidzai for vote buying and rigging during the primary elections against the sitting legislator Mr Roderick Rutsvara.
The youths were chanting slogans wielding placards that read: “Zvidzai wakaitei uri mayor . . . we want (Mr Morgan) Tsvangirai here . . . where is democracy?”
Said Mr Denga: “I am not in a position to comment at the moment as you can see the angry crowd on the ground.
“What I can say is that I am going back to give a report to the secretary general Mr Tendai Biti. As for these elections I have cancelled them, they will be held either on Tuesday or the winning constituency will elect its own councillors if we fail to meet the deadline.”
MDC-T legislator for Mkoba Mr Amos Chibaya; “This needs the secretary general of the party, that is the only way forward.”
Previous primary polls saw Mr Zvidzai beating Mr Rutsvara, Mr Nyasha Mukahlera and Mr Rutsvara, but the results have already been contested and the hearing is on tomorrow.
In Insiza, the party was forced to hold a second internal party ballot in the constituency after Jabulani Mahewu Dube died on May 29, just two days following his victory in party primaries.
The MDC-T had designated three polling stations in Avoca, Silalatshani and Sidzibe – but violence erupted after Mr Dumezweni Dube, the elder brother to the late, was disqualified.
This left Mr Danisa Mlilo and Ntando Ndlela in the race.
The supporters of Mr Dube, who is based in South Africa, threatened the presiding officer Mr Mpumelelo Ndlovu who then called off the polls in Avoca.
MDC-T organising secretary Mr Nelson Chamisa said he was waiting for a report from Insiza South before commenting.
MDC-T spokesperson Mr Douglas Mwonzora could not be reached for comment yesterday.
In Harare, scores of disgruntled party supporters milled around the party headquarters at Harvest House waiting to be addressed over primary elections but later dispersed after no one attended to them.
The supporters of various disqualified aspiring party candidates spent the greater part of the day outside the headquarters, without any senior official attending to them, since most of the official are said to have travelled with Prime Minisiter Tsvangiraion his tour of Matabeleland.
Online Reporter