MDC-T sets team to probe Hurungwe violence

set up another disciplinary committee to investigate individuals suspected of causing violence at its national congress in Bulawayo last year.
The party’s organising department appointed Harare Central MP Mr Murisi Zwizwai, Mkoba MP Mr Amos Chibaya and the party’s deputy chairman Mr Costa Machingauta to look into the Hurungwe violence.
Party organising secretary, Mr Nelson Chamisa confirmed the development, saying the trio was heading for Hurungwe to make investigations and make recommendations to the party.
“We act on the basis of facts and not fiction,” he said.
Mr Chamisa said his party will not sweep any vice under the carpet.
“First, we have to establish whether there were any disturbances, if there were any disturbances we would want to establish the characters and actors so that we can act on them,” he said.
“As a party, we know that violence is not our character.”
MDC-T, he said, would descend heavily on anybody found on the wrong side of the party policy.
At its national executive meeting last week, MDC-T set up a disciplinary committee to deal with rowdy members behind a spate of violence that rocked the party ahead of its congress last year.
The committee is chaired by the party’s chairman, Mr Lovemore Moyo and some of its members are Harare lawyer Mr Chris Mhike and Mr Machingauta.
In Hurungwe, violence broke out during MDC-T elections to reconstitute the district executive in Zvipani a week ago.
Rival groups bused supporters from different parts of the district, leading to the violence.
They fought running battles at the township during elections to elect a new district executive. Others wanted to retain the district executive, while some were for new faces.
Hurungwe West legislator and Zvipani district chairperson Mr Severino Chambati’s supporters fought those who had allegedly been bused into the district by provincial organising secretary Mr Wilson Makanya-ire.
Mr Makanyaire is eyeing the Hurungwe West seat.