Zanu-PF official assaulted for wearing party regalia

The incident occurred at Crest Breeders farm compound after Cde Mutukwa (28) visited his mother while wearing a Zanu-PF T-shirt.
National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi yesterday confirmed the incident.

“The complainant was approached by the four suspects who asked him why he was wearing his party T-shirt before they assaulted him,” he said.
Cde Mutukwa fled the scene and made a report at Waterfalls Police Station.

Chief Supt Nyathi said a few hours later, two MDC-T activists — Royal Mwanza (43) and Luckson Ngwerume (25) — went to the same police station where they also made a report alleging that they had been assaulted by suspected Zanu-PF supporters after being accused of wearing their party caps.

Chief Supt Nyathi said investigations on the case were in progress.
Meanwhile, two MDC-T youths have been arrested on allegations of assaulting another party member in Glen Norah suburb, Harare, as intra-party violence continues to rock the party.

Glen Norah youth secretary for information Golden Munetsi (42) and Tinashe Muzii (24), the branch chairman for PTC, Glen Norah A, were arrested over the weekend.
Police have since launched a manhunt for three other MDC-T — Darlington Munatsi, Blessing Muzii and Dylan Murungweni — in connection with the case.

Chief Supt Nyathi yesterday said the two were arrested on allegations of assaulting Ronald Munara, who is aligned to MDC-T aspiring candidates Herbert Maombera, and Herbert Gomba.

Munetsi, Muzii and their other accomplices are believed to be aligned to Glen Norah constituency legislator Mr Gift Dzirutwe, who lost in the confirmation process.
“It is alleged that on May 23, Munara attended a meeting which was held at Dzirutwe’s house but he was later chased away after being accused of being a sell-out,” Chief Supt Nyathi said.

He said the following day, Munara was spotted by the five while drinking beer at a night club at Chitubu Shopping Centre.
The five are alleged to have called him, but he refused.

“While walking home it is reported that the five followed Ronald Munara and assaulted him and disappeared,” Chief Supt Nyathi said.
A report was made to the police leading to the arrest of Munetsi and Muzii.

Chief Supt Nyathi said the force continues to maintain its zero tolerance stance on violence and would not hesitate to arrest anyone who violates the law.
In his independence speech, President Mugabe said the police should deal decisively with anyone involved in political violence regardless of political affiliation.

He has also repeatedly appealed for peace and co-existence as the country gears for harmonised elections this year.
Violence is expected to rock the party’s primary elections in the remaining provinces following reports of the party  leadership’s  plot  to rig elections.

MDC-T spokesperson Mr Douglas Mwonzora said they had carried out investigations and discovered that other political parties were causing chaos during their party’s   elections.

However, Zanu-PF spokesperson Cde Rugare Gumbo took a swipe at the MDC-T, saying they were playing cheap politics and should learn to solve their own problems without involving other parties.

The MDC-T has been rocked by a wave of intra-party violence over the past weeks.
On May 5, MDC-T Manicaland province organising secretary Prosper Mutseyami and six others assaulted two party members during a restructuring exercise in Chipinge.

Two days later in Masvingo, the party’s ward one chair, Tendai Murambiwa, was beaten for backing a rival candidate ahead of primary  elections.