ZANU PF youths allegedly aligned to embattled party national political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere yesterday violently disrupted a residents’ meeting at Mubaiwa Hotel in Chitungwiza to discuss the appointment of the commission in the dormitory town.
by PAIDAMOYO MUZULU
The youths, numbering about 20, came in a commuter omnibus belonging to suspended Zanu PF ward 7 councillor Charamba Mlambo.
Security staff at the hotel confirmed the blockade of the meeting by the hired thugs.
“Things turned violent after the youths who came in a commuter omnibus said the meeting should not go ahead. They beat up two men at the premises on a number of allegations that included that they were recording the events on their phones,” said the security officer.
Conveners of the meeting Chitungwiza Residents’ Trust (Chitrest) said they had gained support for the discussion on the appointment of a commission from both MDC-T and Zanu PF who both have councillors suspended.
Chitrest spokesperson Marvellous Kumalo said Zanu PF central committee member a Bhunu, an MDC-T provincial member and commission chairman Madzudzo Pawadyira had confirmed their participation at the meeting.
“We had also received police clearance for the event, but it was unfortunately disrupted,” Kumalo said.
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The disruption was linked to the internal Zanu PF factions fighting particularly the ongoing moves to oust Kasukuwere.
“We understand the youths who disrupted the meeting were funded by suspended councillor Mlambo and are aligned to G40 and did not want the meeting to oppose the appointment of the commission,” Kumalo added.
Mlambo confirmed the vehicle used was his, but said he had not sanctioned its use for violence.
“It’s true the vehicle belongs to me. I gave it to youths in my ward to use and I cannot tell how it’s used on a day-to-day basis. If the police had impounded it, I would have followed up on the matter,” Mlambo said.
Mlambo, according to the internal audit report used to suspend the whole council, was implicated in the corrupt acquisition of 46 stands in the local authority.
Chitrest had also invited Combined Harare Residents’ Association chairman Simbarashe Moyo to speak at the aborted discussion forum. Chitrest alleges the three-member Pawadyira-led Chitungwiza commission was receiving $30 a day as sitting allowance and fuel allocations during its tenure.
