Violence rocks Tsvangirai's MDC-T, blow traded

Violence reared its ugly head again in the MDC-T in Masvingo last week after youths from rival camps openly clashed and allegedly exchanged blows, leaving two members seriously injured during a district restructuring meet- ing.

The meeting was being held ahead of the party's congress set for the end of next month. The skirmishes took place at the MDC-T provincial headquarters in the plush Rhodene suburb where hundreds of party members had gathered to restructure the party's Masvingo Urban district.

Police had to move in to quell the violence as supporters from rival factions clashed following a dispute over the composition of the electoral college.

The MDC-T is divided into two camps which are battling for control in Masvingo ahead of the party's congress. One faction is said to be loyal to provincial chairman and businessman Mr Bernard Chiondegwa, while another is believed to be behind trade unionist Mr James Gumbi.

Sources in the party yesterday told The Herald that trouble started after some members aligned to one of the factions destroyed papers with a list of delegates who were supposed to vote.

This did not go down well with Mr Chiondegwa's supporters who intervened, sparking skirmishes between the two factions.

"Mr Chiondegwa's supporters had to run for dear life and fled from the party offices after they were attacked by members from a rival faction," said the source. "Two party members were severely injured after being beaten up during the ensuing violence.

"The restructuring exercise continued minus Mr Chiondegwa's backers and the outcome of the restructuring exercise is controversial because members from the another faction did not take part."

Mr Muranganwa Chanyau was re-elected the Masvingo Urban district chairman during the restructuring exercise.

"But his election is controversial because not everyone who was supposed to take part in the voting participated," said the source. "Many delegates ran for their dear lives because of violence."

Mr Chiondegwa confirmed there were disturbances during his party's Masvingo Urban district restructuring meeting, but denied they degenerated into viol- ence.

He said trouble started after an official from Harare who was supposed to conduct the restructuring of party wards in Masvingo Urban wrongly tried to conduct a district congress.

"I cannot say there was violence basing from the information that I have, but it was only a dispute over what was supposed to be restructured on the day in question," said Mr Chiondegwa.

"Remember, our provincial offices are located in a residential area so some of our neighbours might have called the police after noticing that there was a dispute that appeared to be getting out of control.

"I also heard that there are some party youths who marched to our offices and that might have been interpreted as violence."

The MDC-T is battling to revive its fortunes in Masvingo by electing new leaders after almost the entire previous provincial executive dumped Mr Tsvangirai and joined the Renewal Team fronted by former secretary-general Mr Tendai Biti.