Gumbo slams Mutezo assault

Former Zanu-PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo has lashed out at the "overzealous" mob that publicly humiliated and assaulted former Energy deputy minister Munacho Mutezo during Independence Day celebrations on Saturday.

Mutezo was assaulted on Saturday in Nyanyadzi after he had stood up to give a solidarity message during the celebrations when a group of Zanu-PF supporters including a war veteran identified as Brown Gwinya heckled him and subsequently assaulted him.

Although police in Mutare have said they had no idea of what happened on the day in question, some Zanu-PF members were already divided over the matter with some being sympathetic with Mutezo while others were saying he should be recalled from the party.

Gumbo, who was also fired from the party over links to ousted Vice-President Joice Mujuru, said the incident showed the highest level of indiscipline.

They are clear that anyone who does that kind of thing is not a true war veteran.

True war veterans are disciplined and a genuine war veteran who was in the struggle will not attack anyone, not Mutezo alone, but a fellow citizen, Gumbo said.