The accused eight were last week served with letters of suspension signed by party national chairperson Lovemore Moyo and secretary general Tendai Biti.
“You were part of the violence which marred the Two Boy rally held on March 24, 2012. As a result of this, please be advised that you are suspended from the party forthwith and that the matter is now being referred to the National Disciplinary Committee. The committee shall write to you advising you of the date, time and place of your hearing,” part of the letter reads.
The Two Boy violence left provincial chairperson, Pinnel Denga, nursing injuries. Following the incident, 14 suspects were arrested and spent days in police custody. They later appeared at the Magistrates Court. Some of them, including town mayor, Farai Nyandoro, were acquitted. Others were convicted and paid $300 bail each.
Some MDC-T members described the judgement as biased.
“Surely this is selective application of justice by a party which claims to be democratic. Among the suspended are activists who were found not guilty and acquitted at the Magistrates Court. Imagine, party provincial chairperson, Pinnel Denga, who paid an admission of guilt at the police station for running over a party cadre with a vehicle is not among those suspended,” said a concerned party official.
The official said MDC-T was protecting Denga. He alleged that Denga sponsored the 2011 Mashonaland East elective congress violence, which marred elections at Harvest House. The majority of the recently suspended party members were victims of the 2011 Harvest House violence.
“When party activists were beaten up at Harvest House by suspected Denga-sponsored thugs, Denga persuaded them not to make a police report. But when a similar incident happened at Two Boy, Denga and his colleagues rushed to make police reports which led to arrests,” said a disgruntled senior party member.
In an exclusive interview with The Zimbabwean recently, Denga remained adamant that he did not run over anyone with a vehicle at Two Boy.
“I did not run over anyone with a vehicle as alleged. In fact, I am a victim of that violence. I admitted guilt at the police station to spare myself endless forced visits to the police station for further investigations.”
Denga described the suspensions as a wise ruling, aimed at ridding the party of bad elements. He said this was just the beginning of the expulsion exercise.
“The party must send the right signals that it does not tolerate violence. We have also recommended to the standing committee that Marondera Mayor, Farai Nyandoro, be expelled from MDC-T as he sponsored most of the violence,” said Denga.
Moyo told The Zimbabwean that, “MDC-T does not apply selective justice on its members. Everyone is equal before our disciplinary regulations.
He said despite the criminal courts making their own verdicts, MDC-T had its own policy framework to handle hearings for accused party members.
“The hearings are conducted fairly without bias.”
The suspended are: Carlos Mudzongo,Samuel Kamundarira, Charles Ngwena, Rushi Arineshto, Richman Kanonge,Tichafa Mayora, Chingoma Rengeni and Pedzisai Samungu.
Post published in: News