News / National
'We didn't create MDC-T to be turned into Zanu-PF,' says Biti
16 Feb 2014 at 15:40hrs | Views
MDC-T secretary general, Tendai Biti, has confirmed that he was assaulted while leaving Harvest House yesterday. Biti said the MDC-T needs to draw a line and take a firm stance as the MDC-T was not created to be turned into another Zanu-PF.
"It was a drunken mob," he said.
Biti said the meeting with the district chairpersons was "decent" but was later tainted by the violence which broke out outside Harvest House.
"We need to draw a line and take a firm stance, that violence is a non-starter and a no go area," he said.
"We did not create MDC-T so that it can be turned into another Zanu-PF."
MDC-T deputy treasury-general, Elton Mangoma and Biti were assaulted by a group of party youths for allegedly calling for leadership renewal in the party.
Biti, Mangoma, youth assembly secretary-general, Promise Mkwananzi and others were attacked when they stepped outside Harvest House soon after party leader, Morgan Tsvangirai had finished holding a one-day meeting with the 210 MDC-T district chairpersons.
Top party executives also attended the meeting.
Mangoma, whose shirt was torn in the melee, was pummelled by a group of over 20 youths. He said he feared he had suffered a broken nose and his glasses were broken.
Biti and Mkwananzi were a bit lucky as they only received a few punches and kicks.
Mangoma said when he was leaving Harvest House, the youths started beating him up for no apparent reason.
"They just shouted that I needed to be beaten up, for what reason, I do not know," he said.
"This is the violence that we have always said we do not tolerate."
Mangoma said the violence showed that the meeting was just called to "whip up emotions".
The MDC-T deputy treasurer-general said he was still to decide what action to take, including reporting the matter to the police or instituting internal disciplinary measures against the culprits.
"It was a drunken mob," he said.
Biti said the meeting with the district chairpersons was "decent" but was later tainted by the violence which broke out outside Harvest House.
"We need to draw a line and take a firm stance, that violence is a non-starter and a no go area," he said.
"We did not create MDC-T so that it can be turned into another Zanu-PF."
MDC-T deputy treasury-general, Elton Mangoma and Biti were assaulted by a group of party youths for allegedly calling for leadership renewal in the party.
Biti, Mangoma, youth assembly secretary-general, Promise Mkwananzi and others were attacked when they stepped outside Harvest House soon after party leader, Morgan Tsvangirai had finished holding a one-day meeting with the 210 MDC-T district chairpersons.
Top party executives also attended the meeting.
Mangoma, whose shirt was torn in the melee, was pummelled by a group of over 20 youths. He said he feared he had suffered a broken nose and his glasses were broken.
Biti and Mkwananzi were a bit lucky as they only received a few punches and kicks.
Mangoma said when he was leaving Harvest House, the youths started beating him up for no apparent reason.
"They just shouted that I needed to be beaten up, for what reason, I do not know," he said.
"This is the violence that we have always said we do not tolerate."
Mangoma said the violence showed that the meeting was just called to "whip up emotions".
The MDC-T deputy treasurer-general said he was still to decide what action to take, including reporting the matter to the police or instituting internal disciplinary measures against the culprits.
Source - standard
