News / National
MDC-T supporters 'assault' Elton Mangoma
15 Feb 2014 at 16:19hrs | Views
Elton Mangoma assaulted - ©Nehanda Radio photo
Violence broke out outside the MDC-T Harvest House headquarters in Harare on Saturday as party supporters allegedly assaulted party Deputy Treasurer General Elton Mangoma and other officials accused of seeking the ouster of party leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
Earlier Tsvangirai had met over 210 provincial leaders in a meeting that was dogged by allegations that Mashonaland East chairman Piniel Denga, Tapfumaneyi Wunganai Muzoda (Organising Secretary) had barred Samuel Machekanyanga (Marondera East District Chair) from entering the building.
All hell broke loose when it was time to go home as the protestors outside were baying for Mangoma's blood and allegedly assaulted him. Youth Assembly Secretary General Promise Mkwananzi was also assaulted while his boss Solomon Madzore was holed up in the building unable to leave.
Both Madzore and Mkwananzi were accused of supporting a faction of the party allegedly led by Secretary General Tendai Biti. According to sources Biti escaped the mob by leaving the building with Tsvangirai. One source said he "escaped holding Tsvangirai's jacket."
Zimbabwe Democracy Institute director Pedzisai Ruhanya told Nehanda Radio "We condemn this totally undemocratic behaviour. Violence is a political culture that we must not tolerate and we expect the MDC leadership to take strong action against these perpetrators.
"Surely this is not the democracy that they purport to champion. It depicts the MDC as democratic charlatans not different from ZANU PF," he added.
Earlier Tsvangirai had met over 210 provincial leaders in a meeting that was dogged by allegations that Mashonaland East chairman Piniel Denga, Tapfumaneyi Wunganai Muzoda (Organising Secretary) had barred Samuel Machekanyanga (Marondera East District Chair) from entering the building.
All hell broke loose when it was time to go home as the protestors outside were baying for Mangoma's blood and allegedly assaulted him. Youth Assembly Secretary General Promise Mkwananzi was also assaulted while his boss Solomon Madzore was holed up in the building unable to leave.
Both Madzore and Mkwananzi were accused of supporting a faction of the party allegedly led by Secretary General Tendai Biti. According to sources Biti escaped the mob by leaving the building with Tsvangirai. One source said he "escaped holding Tsvangirai's jacket."
Zimbabwe Democracy Institute director Pedzisai Ruhanya told Nehanda Radio "We condemn this totally undemocratic behaviour. Violence is a political culture that we must not tolerate and we expect the MDC leadership to take strong action against these perpetrators.
"Surely this is not the democracy that they purport to champion. It depicts the MDC as democratic charlatans not different from ZANU PF," he added.
Source - Nehanda Radio
