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Masvingo chief assaults Mugabe

by Staff reporter
30 Nov 2011 at 05:02hrs | Views
CHIEF Murinye, Mr Epheus Munodawafa of Masvingo Central and some of his subjects, last Friday allegedly clashed with  Zanu-PF Masvingo District Co-ordinating Committee chairperson, Trust Mugabe and impounded his party vehicle following a row over the distribution of seed maize donated by President  Mugabe.

President Mugabe recently launched a $27 million Input Support Scheme meant for poor farmers countrywide.

Chief Murinye and his subjects allegedly had an altercation with Mugabe near Chenhuwe Business Centre in Masvingo Central.

The impounded party vehicle was taken to Chief Murinye's homestead.

Zanu-PF Masvingo provincial chairman, Lovemore Matuke, yesterday confirmed receiving a report that the chief clashed with Mugabe, adding the law was supposed to take its course.

"We as a party condemn in the strongest sense the assault of Mugabe and the police should take action because this is a case of assault. I received a report that our

Masvingo DCC chairman was assaulted near Chenhuwe Business Centre and had his party car impounded but I am still to receive a full report of what actually happened," said Matuke.

Zanu-PF Masvingo politburo member, Stan Mudenge,  said he was still to receive the report of Mugabe's assault.

"I am still to receive that report and I think the best person to talk to is Matuke," said Mudenge.

Mugabe yesterday claimed that he was assaulted but said he will not report the case to police because "chiefs are not supposed to be arrested".

"He assaulted me asking why I was distributing seed maize and I sustained a swollen face and I feel pain in my head. I am going to have an X-ray at Masvingo General Hospital He slapped and punched me. He also took away my vehicle," said Mugabe.

Chief Murinye on Sunday admitted that Cde Mugabe's party vehicle was at his place but denied ever assaulting him.

"I took over the party vehicle for security reasons and it is parked at my place right now. . . . I never assaulted the Zanu-PF DCC chairman, in actual fact I saved him from further assault by people who were angry over his corrupt tendencies especially in the way he was distributing the President's seed maize," said Chief Murinye.

He said he was only going to release the vehicle when Cde Mugabe comes in the company of senior party officials from Masvingo.

Source - TC