News / Local
Mbare remains hotbed of violence -ZPP
29 Mar 2016 at 06:34hrs | Views
Zimbabwe Peace Project has reported that Mbare area in Harare has remained a hot bed of political violence in the capital city.
ZPP said the province saw an unprecedented "attack" on war veterans who had gathered in the capital on 18 February 2016 to hold a rally at the City Sports Centre.
"This marked a turning point in the relations between this group and their patron, President Mugabe, as well as with the police. Mbare remains one of the hotbeds of political violence and on 28 February 2016 violence erupted between Zanu-PF youths and MDC-T youths who wanted to use a venue as a meeting point with their party leadership. February reports also show that the scourge of violence is also being witnessed within the opposition MDC-T," said ZPP. "The party restructuring processes in St Mary's were reportedly marred with some scuffles."
ZPP said on 18 February 2016, the police reportedly stopped a planned war veterans' rally that was to be held at the City Sports Centre.
"War veterans who had gathered outside the City Sports Centre were ordered to disperse by the police who informed them the rally was to be held at the Zanu-PF Headquarters. The war veterans argued that the youths had been permitted to hold their rally at the same venue so they were also to be allowed to do the same," reported ZPP.
"It is reported that the situation turned nasty as the police ended up firing teargas to disperse the war veterans. Reports of people having sustained injuries were reported. According to Victor Mutemadanda speaking on behalf of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association, about 30 war veterans suffered diarrhoea and vomiting ailments following the water cannon sprays incident, something which they thought indicated that those affected might have swallowed or inhaled the chemical water which came from the cannons."
ZPP said the province saw an unprecedented "attack" on war veterans who had gathered in the capital on 18 February 2016 to hold a rally at the City Sports Centre.
"This marked a turning point in the relations between this group and their patron, President Mugabe, as well as with the police. Mbare remains one of the hotbeds of political violence and on 28 February 2016 violence erupted between Zanu-PF youths and MDC-T youths who wanted to use a venue as a meeting point with their party leadership. February reports also show that the scourge of violence is also being witnessed within the opposition MDC-T," said ZPP. "The party restructuring processes in St Mary's were reportedly marred with some scuffles."
"War veterans who had gathered outside the City Sports Centre were ordered to disperse by the police who informed them the rally was to be held at the Zanu-PF Headquarters. The war veterans argued that the youths had been permitted to hold their rally at the same venue so they were also to be allowed to do the same," reported ZPP.
"It is reported that the situation turned nasty as the police ended up firing teargas to disperse the war veterans. Reports of people having sustained injuries were reported. According to Victor Mutemadanda speaking on behalf of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association, about 30 war veterans suffered diarrhoea and vomiting ailments following the water cannon sprays incident, something which they thought indicated that those affected might have swallowed or inhaled the chemical water which came from the cannons."
Source - Byo24News
