Masvingo City Council town clerk Adolf Gusha was on Thursday held hostage for about an hour in his office by vendors led by a named Zanu PF aspiring councillor and pastor, who was demanding the local authority redirect buses to Mucheke bus terminus.
The group also demanded council should abolish termini in town.
The suspected Zanu PF supporters claimed the MDC-T-dominated local authority was pushing them out of business as they no longer had clients since most travellers would board buses in town.
Sources close to the incident said the rowdy group, numbering more than 30, stormed Civic Centre at around 1500 hours and walked straight into Gusha’s office, before locking him up.
“There was drama here. The hooligans staged a ‘sit-in’ in his (Gusha) office while others were outside, standing guard. They said they would only release him after their demands were met,” a council employee who witnessed the melee said.
He said the impasse was only broken after mayor Femius Chakabuda came to Gusha’s rescue and addressed the group.
“Chakabuda had to come swiftly from outside town where he was and cooled down tempers. “That was when he managed to secure Gusha’s release,” said the source,adding the matter was however not reported to police.
Gusha confirmed the development but watered down the incident.
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“I was not holed up or kidnapped as such, but a group of people came here seeking some clarification. Of course, when there is a big number like that, there may be lawlessness, but there was no violence. They were later addressed by the mayor,” said Gusha.
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