Zanu-PF official loses teeth in MDC-T youths attack

FOUR MDC youths from Bulilima District have been arrested for attacking a Zanu-PF party official during the ruling party's ongoing cells verification exercise.

The opposition youths assaulted the Zanu-PF branch chairperson for Jutshume area, Mbuso Dube after he stopped them from attacking other party members on Friday.

Zanu-PF party members who were present during the meeting said the MDC youths who were travelling in a truck first drove past the meeting venue several times in a bid to disrupt proceedings.

Matabeleland South acting provincial police spokesperson, Sergeant Thabani Mkhwananzi said he could not comment as his office does not handle assault cases.

Bulilima West National House of Assembly Member, Lungisani Nleya, who was leading the verification team, said Dube lost his teeth in the attack.

He identified the assailants as Doubt Nkomo, Valentine Nkomo, Thembani Sibanda and Brian Sibanda.

"After completing the cell verification meeting we proceeded to get some food and party members were still milling at the meeting venue.  The MDC youths that had passed by during the meeting returned," he said.

"The branch chairman approached them with the intention to get them to leave the area as he suspected they might harm party members.

"Instead they assaulted him and he lost two teeth."

Nleya said the rowdy youths then fled the scene in their vehicle which they later dumped at a homestead and ran away on foot.

Nleya said the four youths were later apprehended and taken to Madlambuzi Police Station where an assault report was made.

He said Dube was ferried to Plumtree District Hospital where he was treated and discharged.

Nleya said Dube, who knew the four youths as they are from his area, revealed that they belonged to the MDC-T.