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Zanu-PF, MDC-T youth clash, police use tear smoke and rubber bullets
01 Nov 2011 at 07:55hrs | Views
SW Radio reports that police had to fire teargas and rubber bullets during clashes between MDC-T and Zanu-PF supporters in Hatcliffe, a constituency held by co-Home Affairs Minister Theresa Makone.
Police intervened after supporters of the MDC-T defended their right to assemble as they sent Zanu-PF's Chipangano gang members scurrying in all directions.
Emmanuel Chiroto, MDC-T councillor for ward 24 and chairman of the Harare north district, told SW Radio Africa on Monday that over 100 Zanu-PF youths were bussed in to interrupt a planned party rally that was to be addressed by Makone, the MP for the area.
'They came in Kombis and started pelting us with rocks, sticks, bottles and bicycle chains and other weapons. We had clearance, in black and white, from the police to hold our rally but Zanu-PF youths sponsored by Justice Zvandasara came in their hundreds to disrupt our rally,' Chiroto said.
Zvandasara was the Zanu-PF candidate in the harmonized elections of 2008 in Harare North Constituency but he was trounced by Makone.
Zvandasara is also Zanu-PF's representative on the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee of the Global Political Agreement. The losing Zanu-PF candidate reportedly placed a gun against an MDC member in full view of the police but no action was taken against him.
'Police fired teargas and rubber bullets at us and we had several people who were injured in the melee. Most of those injured were rushed to the Avenues Clinic,' Chiroto said.
The councilor, whose wife was murdered by Zanu-PF thugs during the 2008 elections, accused Zanu-PF of deliberately provoking their supporters who unfortunately bore the brunt of the police action to quell to disturbances.
'Security forces need to act more professionally when dealing with clashes because MDC people were defending themselves but ended up on the receiving end of police brutality,' Chiroto said.
In a statement, Makone she was shocked that as co-Home Affairs Minister she was not be protected by her own staff (the police). She said it is clear Zanu-PF have targeted Harare North, Epworth, Mbare and Harare South as areas where they want to cow the MDC-T into submission.
She added that she had to assume that the police eventually intervened, only because ZanuPF were clearly losing.
Police intervened after supporters of the MDC-T defended their right to assemble as they sent Zanu-PF's Chipangano gang members scurrying in all directions.
Emmanuel Chiroto, MDC-T councillor for ward 24 and chairman of the Harare north district, told SW Radio Africa on Monday that over 100 Zanu-PF youths were bussed in to interrupt a planned party rally that was to be addressed by Makone, the MP for the area.
'They came in Kombis and started pelting us with rocks, sticks, bottles and bicycle chains and other weapons. We had clearance, in black and white, from the police to hold our rally but Zanu-PF youths sponsored by Justice Zvandasara came in their hundreds to disrupt our rally,' Chiroto said.
Zvandasara was the Zanu-PF candidate in the harmonized elections of 2008 in Harare North Constituency but he was trounced by Makone.
'Police fired teargas and rubber bullets at us and we had several people who were injured in the melee. Most of those injured were rushed to the Avenues Clinic,' Chiroto said.
The councilor, whose wife was murdered by Zanu-PF thugs during the 2008 elections, accused Zanu-PF of deliberately provoking their supporters who unfortunately bore the brunt of the police action to quell to disturbances.
'Security forces need to act more professionally when dealing with clashes because MDC people were defending themselves but ended up on the receiving end of police brutality,' Chiroto said.
In a statement, Makone she was shocked that as co-Home Affairs Minister she was not be protected by her own staff (the police). She said it is clear Zanu-PF have targeted Harare North, Epworth, Mbare and Harare South as areas where they want to cow the MDC-T into submission.
She added that she had to assume that the police eventually intervened, only because ZanuPF were clearly losing.
Source - sw radio
