Country hit by intra - inter party violence - ZPP

The Zimbabwe Peace Project has reported that the country has of late this year experienced  quite a number of intra party violence amid fears that the 14 constituency by elections set for June 10 this year are promising to be bloody.

In its monthly report ZPP said Intra and interparty violence continues to be an issue of great concern in Bulawayo, Harare, Masvingo, Manicaland, Midlands, Mashonaland West, East and Central.

"On 12 March 2015 MDC-T Member of Parliament (MP) for Bulawayo East Thabitha Khumalo was assaulted by suspected rented youths in Mpopoma," reads the report.

"The youths were allegedly hired by also of MDC-T. MP Thabitha Khumalo later proceeded to Njube grounds where she found MDC T supporters being assaulted by another group of youths allegedly hired by Minister Obert Mpofu to disrupt an MDC-T meeting. Some old women were at Njube Police where the MP followed them."

The organisation reported that Khumalo then removed her TShirt and gave it to a lady whose top had been torn to pieces.

"Police then arrested her and charged her with indecent exposure and made her pay $20 admission of guilt fine," reads the report. "After the incident Honourable Khumalo received a threat that she was on a hit list of state security agents. ZPP confirmed the incidents with Khumalo who says she now lives in constant fear."
The report states that both MDC-T and Zanu PF were culprits in the violence reported.

ZPP also inmjdicated that violence in Matabeleland North topped the list du5ring the month under review.
In Harare ZPP said the major sources of conflicts were ZANU PF cell organisation, primary elections in ZANU PF and the poor relations between ZANU PF and MDC-T.

"The primary elections in the ZANU PF party led to violence over positions," reads the report. "Losing Zanu PF candidates in the primary elections complained that the process was not free and fair. In Highfields Constituency, some Zanu PF members claimed that Psychology Maziwisa the winning candidate had been imposed on them."

Many of the members who supported George Chimhini's candidacy attacked the other Zanu PF supporters who were on Omega Fani Hungwe's side at  Dzivaresekwa shopping centre.

"Chimhini's supporters accused Hungwe of  not being a genuine Zanu PF cadre as she was perceived to belong to the Mujuru faction. When George Chimhini arrived at the scene he pleaded with his supporters not to attack the opponents as they all belonged to the same party. George Chimhini could not be  contacted by ZPP as he had committed to call back with a detailed response which ZPP was still expecting," reads the report.

ZPP reported that in March ZANU PF was organising people in different parts of the country where people were forced to attend the meetings and coerced. It said the people were made to accept party positions.
This took place in Glen View 3," reads the report.

" Zanu PF and MDC-T clashed in St Mary's Ward 2 and the police reportedly assaulted MDC T members and  One youth sustained a broken leg and two were injured court facing a charge of inciting violence ruled that the police could proceed by way of summons," reads the report.

In Manicaland the nomination of Zanu PF candidates also reportedly sparked furore among Zanu PF members.

"The electorate is disgruntled because the candidates were reportedly imposed on them by the leadership at a rally at Headlands shops which was addressed by Honourables Oppah Muchunguri, Patrick Chinamasa, Joseph Made and the Manicaland Provincial when the candidature of Christopher Chingosho to take over the seat left vacant after the ouster of former MP Didymus Mutasa, was announced. The announcement was not well received as  grumbling and shouting at the team for imposing a candidate on them was done. It was at that moment that suspected state agents started beating people," reads the report.

The report also indicates that all the provinces where the Zanu PF is doing restructuring of its leadership was mired by intra party squabbles and the by elections set for June 10 are likely to be bloody.