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NewsDay

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Kasukuwere fumes over Tsvangirai allegations

Politics
Youth Development minister Saviour Kasukuwere said he has confronted Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai over accusations he mobilised youths to disrupt an MDC-T rally in Chitungwiza last week. Kasukuwere said he was not taking the issue lightly as it was criminal defamation and would want Tsvangirai’s party to justify its allegations. But MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora […]

Youth Development minister Saviour Kasukuwere said he has confronted Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai over accusations he mobilised youths to disrupt an MDC-T rally in Chitungwiza last week.

Kasukuwere said he was not taking the issue lightly as it was criminal defamation and would want Tsvangirai’s party to justify its allegations.

But MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora yesterday said the party had credible evidence Kasukuwere mobilised the youths and was in Chitungwiza on the day the clashes occurred.

“We have credible evidence, but we will not divulge the sort of evidence that we have,” said Mwonzora.

Zanu PF and MDC-T youths clashed in Chitungwiza over the weekend after Zanu PF activists violently disrupted a rally the Premier was scheduled to address at Chibuku Stadium.

Tsvangirai accused Kasukuwere and other senior Zanu PF officials in Chitungwiza of mobilising youths who violently disrupted his party’s rally.

Kasukuwere yesterday said: “He (Tsvangirai) has to tell the nation what happened and who told him that I was in Chitungwiza and doing what. I am not taking this as a joke and the PM should open up. It’s serious criminal defamation.

“I spoke to him and he apologised. He said he was sorry, but I want to find out where he got that information. What will be the point for me to disrupt his rally?

I didn’t know there was anything happening in Chitungwiza. Youngsters were beaten up and got injured, so why would I celebrate that?”

Kasukuwere added: “I have since approached him and he assured me that he would check with his sources and take the necessary action to put the record straight. On my part, I travelled to Mutare and the entire day I was attending to my business.

“My stance on violence is clear: violence is unnecessary and must be condemned. Young people must not accept to be used as instruments of destruction and aggression.

Differences must not be resolved in violent confrontation and the events of last weekend are unnecessary.”

Strenuous efforts to contact Tsvangirai’s spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka were fruitless by the time of going to press last night.