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MDC-T supporters face violence charges

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Six MDC-T members, among them Mutare Senator Keresenzia Chabuka, have been arrested and charged with public violence after they allegedly attacked fellow party members in the city last weekend. The suspects’ lawyer Passmore Nyakureba confirmed the development yesterday, saying his clients were arrested on Wednesday and would be brought to court today facing public violence […]

Six MDC-T members, among them Mutare Senator Keresenzia Chabuka, have been arrested and charged with public violence after they allegedly attacked fellow party members in the city last weekend.

The suspects’ lawyer Passmore Nyakureba confirmed the development yesterday, saying his clients were arrested on Wednesday and would be brought to court today facing public violence charges.

The group is alleged to have assaulted councillors Morgan Chipara and Pamela Mutari at the party provincial offices last Saturday.

Five of the suspects — Taurai Saradina, Washington Madewu, Farai Aritura, Tsitsi Ziweya and Godwin Sithole — were arrested on Wednesday while Chabuka handed herself to police yesterday.

“All my clients are, however, denying the charge,” said Nyakureba. “Initially they were charged with assault, but it was later changed to public violence.”

Nyakureba said the alleged incident took place after MDC-T provincial chairperson Julius Magarangoma convened a meeting with Mutare Central district committee members to deliberate, among other issues, the alleged gross incompetence and corruption reported at the civic centre.

The two councillors and acting mayor George Jerison reportedly gatecrashed the meeting, disrupting the proceedings and accusing the provincial party leadership of carrying out an illegal witch-hunting exercise.

“The councillors who gatecrashed the meeting dramatised an attack and they telephoned some members of the national council (NC) of the MDC-T saying they had been assaulted by the senator and all the accused,” said a party insider.

Another senior official who refused to be identified added: “There were real verbal attacks on the provincial executive and we really don’t know what they were advised by the NC members but they later reported the matter to the police days after the incident.”

Other party members said the clashes were linked to the suspension of Mutare mayor Brian James. James was suspended by Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo over allegations of corruption, insubordination and backbiting other councillors.

MDC-T Manicaland provincial spokesperson Pishayi Muchauraya could not be reached for comment.