News / National
Fistfights at MDC-T rally
27 Jan 2016 at 07:04hrs | Views
CHAOTIC scenes reportedly marred an MDC-T rally held at Njube Hall in Bulawayo on Sunday, resulting in some party members being beaten up for supporting another faction.
Southern Eye yesterday gathered that the Njube rally was tense, leading to the exchange of blows.
Susan Mbewe (43) of Iminyela high-density suburb claimed she was assaulted during the skirmishes, after she was accused of heckling and booing Bulawayo deputy mayor, Gift Banda.
Mbewe has since laid assault charges against ward 22 councillor, Thobani Ncube, and three other party supporters.
"I am in pain following the beatings and I have filed a police report against them. I was accused of being one of the people who were booing Banda," she said.
Both Ncube and Banda were not reachable for comment.
The rally was addressed by MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai.
The MDC-T Bulawayo province is said to be split in two - one faction supporting Banda and the other backing Senator Matson Hlalo.
Hlalo and Banda, the MDC-T Bulawayo provincial chairperson, have been at loggerheads over the control of the city's structures.
In 2014, the High Court recognised Hlalo as duly elected MDC-T provincial chairman ahead of Banda, but the MDC-T disregarded the court ruling.
On Friday, Tsvangirai was forced to call off a provincial meeting due to simmering tensions over the control of the Bulawayo province, as Banda's rivals continuously heckled him.
But MDC-T spokesperson, Obert Gutu denied that the skirmishes happened.
"Nothing like that ever happened at any of our meetings in Bulawayo. Things went on smoothly and we never had any incidents of violence during the meetings," he said.
Southern Eye yesterday gathered that the Njube rally was tense, leading to the exchange of blows.
Susan Mbewe (43) of Iminyela high-density suburb claimed she was assaulted during the skirmishes, after she was accused of heckling and booing Bulawayo deputy mayor, Gift Banda.
Mbewe has since laid assault charges against ward 22 councillor, Thobani Ncube, and three other party supporters.
"I am in pain following the beatings and I have filed a police report against them. I was accused of being one of the people who were booing Banda," she said.
Both Ncube and Banda were not reachable for comment.
The rally was addressed by MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai.
The MDC-T Bulawayo province is said to be split in two - one faction supporting Banda and the other backing Senator Matson Hlalo.
Hlalo and Banda, the MDC-T Bulawayo provincial chairperson, have been at loggerheads over the control of the city's structures.
In 2014, the High Court recognised Hlalo as duly elected MDC-T provincial chairman ahead of Banda, but the MDC-T disregarded the court ruling.
On Friday, Tsvangirai was forced to call off a provincial meeting due to simmering tensions over the control of the Bulawayo province, as Banda's rivals continuously heckled him.
But MDC-T spokesperson, Obert Gutu denied that the skirmishes happened.
"Nothing like that ever happened at any of our meetings in Bulawayo. Things went on smoothly and we never had any incidents of violence during the meetings," he said.
Source - newsday
