Shops close as violence escalates in Hurungwe West

Shop owners at Sengwe township were forced to close their shops ahead of the Zanu PF rally at Nyamhunga High School where Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko campaigned for the party's candidate Keith Guzah as violence reportedly escalated in the constituency ahead of the June 10 by election.

 Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) reported that those who refused to follow orders of closing and attending the rally were assaulted.

"A teacher at Matau primary who was found drunk outside a closed bottle store was brutally assaulted and thrown in an unmarked Isuzu KB vehicle. The violent youths were moving around in a white commuter omnibus registration ACK 6946," reported ZPP.

Guzah is contesting against former legislator for Hurungwe West Temba Mliswa who is standing as an independent in the June 10 by election after being expelled from the party and Parliament.

"VP Mphoko was quoted, 'baba simukai, mune minwe yakadamburwa muhondo saka mungarega Mliswa achitonga munzvimbo ino here hazvigone,' (Addressing a war veteran known as Moyo he asked him if he would allow Mliswa to be victorious in the area considering that he Moyo lost fingers in the war)," ZPP reported.

The ruling party is reportedly making all it can to win the by electin in Hurungwe West against Mliswa who was expelled by the party.