News / National
MDC-T, Zanu-PF youths clash at Tsvangirai meeting
05 May 2014 at 06:27hrs | Views
MDC-T and Zanu-PF youths fought running battles in the streets of Epworth on Harare's outskirts yesterday just after opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and his lieutenants held a rally there.
While it could not be ascertained what instigated the fight, our Harare Bureau witnessed party youths throwing stones at each other for about 10 minutes. The situation was calmed by anti-riot police.
While traffic was disrupted, damage to property could not be immediately ascertained.
Last night, police spokesperson Chief Superintendant Paul Nyathi said he was unaware of the incident.
In his address at the rally, Tsvangirai reiterated his calls for an "all-stakeholders conference" to resolve the country's economic challenges.
"President Mugabe should come to the negotiating table because he does not have an option. How can you have Zim-Asset without money and say I have friends when the friends are just countries like Malawi. You should have friends with money.
"The negotiations we want are not another GNU but must include everyone, political parties, churches and trade unions to craft a new roadmap to resolve the country. We should also agree that President Mugabe should retire," he said.
Tsvangirai claimed President Mugabe previously told him Zanu-PF would disintegrate if he retired.
Zanu-PF has dismissed Tsvangirai's calls, saying he is trying to find relevance by being invited into another coalition government.
The party maintains that Zim-Asset will soon start bearing fruit.
Turning to the growing calls for him to step down by the MDC-T Renewal Team led by secretary-general Tendai Biti, Tsvangirai said: "Do you want me to abandon you in the middle of the struggle? That would be a neglect of duty."
MDC-T deputy chairman Morgan Komichi said they remained loyal to Tsvangirai.
National executive member Paurina Mpariwa attacked Biti and Elton Mangoma saying they were not original party members.
"There should be a difference between the founders, the followers and those who joined. Biti was not there when we formed the party, we sold him a party card," she said.
MDC-T organising secretary Nelson Chamisa said every member would have to give the party 50 US cents monthly.
MDC-T is facing serious financial difficulties as donors have dumped Tsvangirai as he has failed to dislodge President Mugabe and Zanu-PF.
While it could not be ascertained what instigated the fight, our Harare Bureau witnessed party youths throwing stones at each other for about 10 minutes. The situation was calmed by anti-riot police.
While traffic was disrupted, damage to property could not be immediately ascertained.
Last night, police spokesperson Chief Superintendant Paul Nyathi said he was unaware of the incident.
In his address at the rally, Tsvangirai reiterated his calls for an "all-stakeholders conference" to resolve the country's economic challenges.
"President Mugabe should come to the negotiating table because he does not have an option. How can you have Zim-Asset without money and say I have friends when the friends are just countries like Malawi. You should have friends with money.
"The negotiations we want are not another GNU but must include everyone, political parties, churches and trade unions to craft a new roadmap to resolve the country. We should also agree that President Mugabe should retire," he said.
Tsvangirai claimed President Mugabe previously told him Zanu-PF would disintegrate if he retired.
The party maintains that Zim-Asset will soon start bearing fruit.
Turning to the growing calls for him to step down by the MDC-T Renewal Team led by secretary-general Tendai Biti, Tsvangirai said: "Do you want me to abandon you in the middle of the struggle? That would be a neglect of duty."
MDC-T deputy chairman Morgan Komichi said they remained loyal to Tsvangirai.
National executive member Paurina Mpariwa attacked Biti and Elton Mangoma saying they were not original party members.
"There should be a difference between the founders, the followers and those who joined. Biti was not there when we formed the party, we sold him a party card," she said.
MDC-T organising secretary Nelson Chamisa said every member would have to give the party 50 US cents monthly.
MDC-T is facing serious financial difficulties as donors have dumped Tsvangirai as he has failed to dislodge President Mugabe and Zanu-PF.
Source - chronicle
