adminThe two youths who were arrested were by yesterday still in police custody following the skirmishes, which occurred on Saturday at the party’s provincial headquarters at Number 30 Smart Road, Athlone, in Gweru.
Police confirmed the arrest of the two MDC-T party youths, Livingston Chiminya, who is the youth chairman for Chiwundura district, and his alleged accomplice, Jairos Maskiri.
MDC-T Midlands South provincial spokesperson Mr James Tsuro also confirmed the violence and the arrest of the two party youths.
“Chiminya and Maskiri were arrested at the party provincial headquarters while the other youths who were also involved in the violence took to their heels soon after police were called in to quell the violence,” said the source.
The source said the fight erupted when party youths aligned to the provincial chairperson, Mrs Lillian Acropol, clashed with fellow youths aligned to Mr Sesel Zvidzayi who is the party’s most influential senior official in the Midlands province.
“The Lillian Acropol-led faction was against the holding of the provincial meeting to precede election for the vacant provincial executive posts,” said the source.
The source said violence then erupted when Mrs Acropol tried to veto and nullify the holding of elections despite elections being on the meeting’s agenda.
“Apart from addressing the intra-party violence rocking MDC-T’s Midlands South province, the meeting sought to elect provincial executive secretaries. The Lillian-led faction had few people in attendance and resolved to halt the elections, resulting in violence erupting,” said the source.
The source said the violent incident resulted in senior provincial party members seeking refuge in the party building while the youths were engaged in running battles outside.
“This was when police were quickly raised. Chiminya and Maskiri were arrested while the other youths took to their heels when the police arrived,” said the source.
Mr Tsuro said the party was also conducting its independent investigations into the incident with the hope of punishing the perpetrators.
“While police are doing their investigations into the weekend violence, we are also conducting our own investigations as a party so that the perpetrators of violence are brought before the disciplinary committee,” he said.
Mr Tsuro said the party president, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, was against any form of political violence.
“The party has zero tolerance towards violence and the president, Mr Tsvangirai, has on many occasions denounced violence.
“We will take a tough stance on those party members who would be found guilty in the weekend violence,” he said.
Mr Tsuro said the meeting, which among other things, sought to fill 10 vacant provincial executive posts, was abandoned following the skirmishes.
“The meeting intended to elect 10 provincial executive members as we had vacant posts in the province. It could not be concluded following the disturbances. The party is now looking into the matter,” he said.
Online Reporter