News / Local
MDC-T Bulawayo violence, elections postponed again
23 Apr 2011 at 05:47hrs | Views
MDC-T Bulawayo elections were once again marred by violence with members of the Gorden Moyo faction clashing with those belonging to the Matson Hlalo faction. This led to the postponement of the election process.
Losing candidate, Hlalo refuse to accept defeat in the intra-party poll, citing violence and rigging. The MDC-T national executive refused to recognise Hlalo's plea by nullifying the results. Moyo remains the elected representative.
The elections followed similar incidents earlier this month where rival MDC-T factions clashed leading to the postponement of the first elections.
Earlier this month the provincial elections of the MDC-T in Matabeleland were marred by intra-party violence with beer bottles, stones, baseball bats, iron bars and fists used by that party's supporters to pound each other.
Friday's elections were meant to elect the rest of the executive.
Clashes started after supporters aligned to Hlalo who were from Mpopoma were refused entry into the party's offices to be part of the voting process.
They started throwing missiles at the crowd which was gathered outside the offices who retaliated until riot police were called.
Meanwhile, police in Bulawayo have arrested 12 people in connection with the MDC-T intra-party violence that took place at the party's office in the build up to the postponed provincial elections.
National Deputy Police Spokesperson, Chief Superintendent Oliver Mandipaka said the people who were arrested are MDC-T supporters who took part in intra-party clashes and will be charged with public violence and disorder.
Chief Superintendent Mandipaka also warned political parties that police will not tolerate any forms of violence and will be out in full force to stop it.
The violence has exposed the MDC-T which is claiming that its members are victims of violence perpetrated by Zanu PF supporters.
At least eight MDC-T provincial elections have been carried out, and reports of violence were reported in all of them.
MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai tried to deal with the internal strife in his party's structures by nullifying results in at least three provinces, including Bulawayo.
Losing candidate, Hlalo refuse to accept defeat in the intra-party poll, citing violence and rigging. The MDC-T national executive refused to recognise Hlalo's plea by nullifying the results. Moyo remains the elected representative.
The elections followed similar incidents earlier this month where rival MDC-T factions clashed leading to the postponement of the first elections.
Earlier this month the provincial elections of the MDC-T in Matabeleland were marred by intra-party violence with beer bottles, stones, baseball bats, iron bars and fists used by that party's supporters to pound each other.
Friday's elections were meant to elect the rest of the executive.
Clashes started after supporters aligned to Hlalo who were from Mpopoma were refused entry into the party's offices to be part of the voting process.
They started throwing missiles at the crowd which was gathered outside the offices who retaliated until riot police were called.
National Deputy Police Spokesperson, Chief Superintendent Oliver Mandipaka said the people who were arrested are MDC-T supporters who took part in intra-party clashes and will be charged with public violence and disorder.
Chief Superintendent Mandipaka also warned political parties that police will not tolerate any forms of violence and will be out in full force to stop it.
The violence has exposed the MDC-T which is claiming that its members are victims of violence perpetrated by Zanu PF supporters.
At least eight MDC-T provincial elections have been carried out, and reports of violence were reported in all of them.
MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai tried to deal with the internal strife in his party's structures by nullifying results in at least three provinces, including Bulawayo.
Source - Guardian
