The elections were supposed to have been held at Mtapa Hall in the city.
According to eye witnesses, supporters of Rutsvara who lost to Local Government Deputy Minister Sesil Zvidzai during the party’s primary elections to select a parliamentary candidate invaded the hall violently dispersing those who had gathered. Despite the fact that police had cleared the event, the force had not sent in its details to provide security as is stated by the Public Order and Security Act, under which applications to hold public gatherings are made.
“The youths who numbered more than the people who had gathered for the primary elections, held placards which said Zvidzai had rigged the last primary election. They force-marched us out of the venue saying the event could not be held before their concerns were addressed,” said an MDC-T Gweru district executive member.
“The venue turned into a chaotic scene and, unfortunately, police were nowhere to offer security,” said another eye witness.
Jameson Tsuro, the MDC-T Acting Midlands South Organising Secretary, confirmed the incident and said the development was retrogressive because the party would need to use more resources to conduct another primary election as the next general election approaches.
“Rutsvara’s supporters are the ones who made us postpone the exercise indefinitely. We will have to wait for the National Executive of the party to give us the way-forward. The violence is condemned and once again we call for tolerance among our members.
“The main aim of the party is to get Tsvangirai to State House but some of us are losing that grand vision,” said Tsuro.
Last month the same youths aligned to Rutsvara disrupted a campaign meeting for Zvidzai in the city and severely assaulted a city councillor, Kennias Sithole.
Post published in: News