POLITICAL violence erupted in Mbare yesterday as suspected Zanu PF supporters pounced on opposition MDC-T youths, leaving three seriously injured.
BY MOSES MATENGA
The clashes came after scores of MDC-T youths attended a hearing at the Mbare Magistrates’ Court, where 17 opposition activists, including Highfield East MP Eric Murayi, faced charges of holding an illegal gathering in Hopley, Harare South, on Sunday.
According to witnesses, the violence took place at the residence of former councillor Paul Gorekore, about 300 metres from a Zanu PF base at Carter House, a council building invaded by ruling party militia a few years ago.
The injured were rushed to a local private hospital, where they are receiving treatment, NewsDay heard.
When NewsDay arrived at Gorekore’s residence, the MDC-T provincial youth secretary for Harare, Denford Ngadziore, equated the latest skirmishes to a declaration of war by Zanu PF.
“We attended a court session for our members who were arrested on Sunday and after that, the chairman (Gorekore) organised lunch at his place. Zanu PF youths were monitoring the situation from a distance and after realising that some of our supporters had left, they attacked us,” he narrated.
“Three people were injured and these include Rhino Mashaya, the Harare organising secretary, James Chidhakwa, youth affairs secretary for home affairs, and Keith Charumbira, youth national secretary for security.
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“The three could hardly walk, while one was spitting blood when they arrived at the private hospital.”
They were said to have suffered severe head injuries, while Mashaya lost three teeth in the melee, according to Ngadziore. Police arrested the 17 activists for allegedly organising an illegal meeting at Hopley Farm after they had reportedly refused to sanction the gathering, citing security concerns following another violent outbreak last week.
This is the third time in less than 10 days that Zanu PF and MDC-T youths have clashed, leaving scores injured.
Last week, violence erupted again at Hopley Farm after Zanu PF supporters besieged the venue of an MDC-T rally and fought running battles with youths preparing for the rally.
More than 13 people were injured in the skirmishes.
On Sunday, more than 10 MDC-T supporters were injured after violence again broke out in Harare South between Zanu PF and MDC-T supporters.
Zanu PF youth acting chairman for Harare, Edson Takataka, was not immediately available for comment on the matter.
At the weekend, MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai reportedly told a rally in Alaska, Chinhoyi, he was fed up with the Zanu PF violence, adding it was time his supporters “hit back”.
Meanwhile, the 17 were remanded in custody to today when their application for bail is set to be heard.
