Tsvangirai urged to deal with MDC violence

There have been sporadic reports of MDC activists brutalising each other in a bitter turf war for provincial posts, with rights groups reminding Tsvangirai that he could be held criminally responsible if he does not act to stop the violence. ?

The MDC provincial congresses last weekend turned violent in at least three provinces as supporters of rival factions attacked each other.

In one such violent clash between MDC-T supporters, an activist suffered a fractured skull when he was attacked by supporters of a rival faction in Bulawayo where the provincial election was marred by violence amid allegations Tsvangirai had imposed his blue-eyed boy Gorden Moyo, who was elected chairman.

Moyo won the chairmanship ahead of MDC veteran Matson Hlalo. But the congress degenerated into chaos as the supporters of the two men fought each other until police had to be called in to quell the violence.

More MDC activists also clashed in Gweru and Mutare, with defiant activists saying the lawlessness would continue unless the party stops imposing candidates and allow members to freely choose who they want to represent them.

But ?MDC organising secretary Elias Mudzuri has promised that the party will act against those found guilty of committing violence.

He said: “We do not want violence in the party. We have taken the names of people who have been behind this violence, and disciplinary action is going to be taken against them. ? We want to come up with a congress resolution that will condemn violence. We are having a meeting of the executive to discuss violence in the party.”

However human rights activists have urged Tsvangirai a victim of violence at the hands of Zanu (PF) to act urgently to nip the bud violence tendencies among some of his followers.

“Tsvangirai must take a stand against this before its too late, otherwise he will be criminally liable for the violence taking place in his party,” said Harare-based analyst Ronald Shumba.