Violence rocked Zanu PF’s Mzee district elections held at Mbizo youth centre at the weekend as candidates unleashed rowdy youths on each other over allegations of rigging.
The violence spilled into the district party headquarters in the central business district on Tuesday after the losing candidate Alderman Onisimo Zhavairo allegedly bussed youths and women from Mbizo to demonstrate against provincial executive member in charge of security, Owen “Mudha” Ncube, who is accused of masterminding the rigging of elections.
Zhavairo was defeated in the party polls by McClean Nyamucherera, but alleges the elections were rigged.
On Tuesday afternoon, over 40 youths besieged the party’s district office toyi-toying and carrying posters denouncing Mudha and other members of the provincial executive. Zhavairo was allegedly spotted among the protesters.
Police later intervened and dispersed the rowdy crowd. Mudha confirmed the skirmishes yesterday, but said they had been caused by “a few individuals who had bussed in thugs from the MDC in an attempt to distabilise the revolutionary party”.
“We are holding peaceful and fair elections in all our districts and we call on those who will have lost the elections to accept the results peacefully. We will not accept those who bus in thugs from the MDC to come and dictate how we should run our party,” said Mudha.
Zhavairo countered and said everyone who had gone to the party office had done so in the hope of peacefully protesting against a stolen vote, and these were genuine Zanu PF supporters.
“They only wanted to show their displeasure to the party leadership. Elections should be held in a free and fair manner,” said Zhavairo.
