adminSunday Mail Reporters
FIVE people believed to be supporters of aspiring Norton House of Assembly representative Mr Temba Mliswa were arrested yesterday for attacking police and Zanu-PF supporters at a campaign rally ahead of next week’s by-election. National police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said, “We have arrested five people in connection with the violence that broke out in Norton, and the suspects are in custody.
“We are still investigating as others fled before they could be apprehended.”
The situation was tense around Norton from around 11am owing to double-booking of the venue by candidates in next week’s by-election, Cde Ronnie Chindedza (Zanu-PF) and Mr Mliswa.
The Sunday Mail understands that while both parties had booked the same venue for their respective rallies, Mr Mliswa had not obtained police clearance leading to a standoff with law enforcement agents.
Police mounted a barricade between supporters of both candidates. However, Mr Mliswa’s group broke through, attacked the police and stoned Cde Chindedza’s supporters.
Tear gas was fired amid running battles between police and Mr Mliswa’s supporters.
People believed to be Mr Mliswa’s supporters then torched an electricity transformer, and several ruling party supporters were injured during the violence skirmishes, with some requiring medical attention for head injuries.
Police reinforcements with two water cannons dispersed the mob and calm was restored.
Cde Pikirayi Choga, a Zanu-PF supporter from the constituency, told The Sunday Mail that Mr Mliswa’s supporters launched an unprovoked attack.
He said: “There is no place for people like Mliswa in politics; politicians should persuade people to vote for them without using violence. How can people go to vote for a person who stoned you a week ago?
“The odds are against him as people have realised how bad he is. We are certainly going to win the by- election, come next week.” The Zanu-PF rally proceeded without incident after calm had been restored.
Addressing a sizeable crowd, Zanu-PF Secretary for Youth Affairs Cde Kudzi Chipanga said people should vote for the party which had people at heart, before pledging to assist with acquisition of residential housing stands.
“To all of you here, we are going to give you stands regardless of your age, gender and size. Once you complete the application form the stand is all yours.
“Zanu-PF is a people’s party which has people at heart, over the years we have been empowering our people and we continue to do. All of you here I pronounce you landlords and landladies,” said Cde Chipanga. The Norton seat fell vacant when former Zanu-PF member Mr Christopher Mutsvangwa was expelled from the party for gross misconduct.
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