adminFreedom Mupanedemo Midlands Bureau
Zanu-PF Midlands provincial leadership yesterday suspended indefinitely Kwekwe Central primary elections after rowdy youths suspected to be illegal gold miners invaded the district party office and started beating up everyone, including polling agents.
The youths, most of whom were said to be not in the party structures reportedly accused the district leadership of trying to impose candidates, went on to unleash wave of violence on all polling stations including stoning parked vehicles at the party district headquarters.
Police had to be called in and fired shots in the air to disperse the violent gangs which were armed with machetes and iron bars.
Zanu-PF Midlands Provincial chairman, Cde Daniel Mackenzie Ncube confirmed the violence and subsequently suspension of the primary elections.
He said the party was assisting the police to bring the suspects to book.
“As the voting process was beginning to start, some rowdy youths, most of them gold panners from the surrounding mines, came and disrupted the elections. They beat up everyone, including polling agents. They also stoned vehicles and investigations are going on to establish the motive behind the violence,” he said.
Cde Ncube said the provincial command convened an emergency meeting and suspended the primaries.
“We have suspended the elections in Kwekwe indefinitely as we still try to investigate the hand behind the violence.
“We are a party of peace and unity, so we want to do a complete investigation while we assist the police in these investigations,” he said.
Cde Ncube said the other by election primaries in Gweru were still going on and the results were yet to be announced by late last night.
In the suspended Kwekwe primaries, local businessman and an Apostolic sect leader, Cde Kandros Mugabe was battling it out with Cde Energy Ncube.
Kwekwe Central constituency was left vacant following the death of Mr Masango Matambanadzo.
In Gweru, there are five candidates who are eyeing Mkoba Constituency which fell vacant following the recalling of MDC-A member Mr Amos Chibaya from Parliament.
Those eyeing the seat are Cdes Charles Simbi, Basilton Sikhosana, Willian Gondo, Thomas Mlitao and Rosemary Vundla. For the ward seat in Mberengwa South, the candidates who presented their CVs are Cdes Malibongwe Zhou, Vusani Ndlovu, Pedzisai Zhou, Timirirashe Shumba, Panic Ngwenya and Ozia Maphosa.
The seat fell vacant following the death of councillor Torai Matutu two weeks ago.
Online Reporter