adminWard 3 in Masvingo Urban were also cancelled on Saturday after MDC-T supporters backing rival candidates engaged in a mass brawl following allegations of rigging and vote-buying.
In Gutu North, where incumbent MDC-T legislator Mr Hamandishe Maramwidze chickened out and did not seek re-election, primary elections pitting Mrs Henerica Takaona and Dr Tichaona Mavetera were stopped before completion following an outbreak of violence.
The violence allegedly started after bickering between supporters of the two candidates over who was supposed to vote.
Sources in the party yesterday said trouble started after some of the supporters backing Mrs Takaona were blocked from casting their ballot on the grounds that they were not in the electoral college.
This sparked an outcry from Mrs Takaona’s supporters and chaos ensued, resulting in a fierce exchange of blows between supporters of the two candidates.
Officials from the national organising committee who were conducting the elections allegedly fled from the scene with some ballot boxes containing votes that had been cast before trouble started.
The national organising committee is reportedly going to rule on the way forward after the violence and chaos that reigned supreme in Gutu North.
“Trouble started after an attempt to block some of Mrs Takaona’s supporters from voting,” said an MDC-T insider who refused to be named.
“The supporters then protested intensely, resulting in chaos and violence between supporters of the two candidates.
“Officials from the national organising committee fled from the scene with ballot boxes containing votes that had already been cast and we do not know what they will decide to do as a way forward.”
MDC-T provincial secretary and Masvingo Urban legislator Mr Tongai Matutu said he was yet to get a full briefing on what actually transpired, resulting in the abandonment of the voting process. Mr Matutu said he was not aware at what stage the voting process stopped.
“I have not yet been briefed on what actually transpired in Gutu North primaries so at the moment I cannot tell at what stage the primary elections were disrupted,” he said.
“I am also not sure what is going to happen with regards to that constituency.’’
In Ward 3 in Masvingo Urban, primaries to choose the MDC-T council candidate for the area failed to kick off after violence broke out between supporters of rival candidates.
Sources in the party said the polls had to be called off after supporters of rival candidates traded blows amid allegations of vote buying and rigging.
It could not be established when the MDC-T would conduct the primary elections in the ward.
Online Reporter