MDC-T youths declare war on Mugabe links institutions

Opposition political party youths went on a rampage in central Harare today, stoning, burning and assaulting whoever came in their way.

A ZBC and a police car were burnt in the chaos while a Choppies supermarket was looted by the hooligans.

A ZBC driver, Makesure Chieza, was injured while dropping off and picking up staff member in town.

"When I stopped to drop some staff members and pick up others, I stone flew through the window and missed my face before another one struck my head just above the ear. More stones came flying and when I scurried for safety, the hooligans set the car on fire," he said.

Several ZBC staffers also had to run for their life.

Police National Spokesperson, Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said a police bus was also burnt at Market Square, and several business people and individuals are still reporting cases of damage to their properties.

"They burnt a police vehicle and a bus and looted several shops, among them Choppies Supermarket. Police officers are still on the ground and several people have been arrested. Some people are coming reporting cases of damage to their property," said Charamba.

She added that police will not allow violent demonstrations where people go about carrying stones and all forms of weapons with violent intentions.

The Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Ignatius Chombo condemned the mayhem caused by MDC-T youths, adding that those caught on the wrong side of the law will live to regret.

"[Morgan] Tsvangirai and his MDC-T party are to blame for all this and police are going to take appropriate action. We cannot sit and watch while such things are being perpetrated by these malcontents who are bereft of ideas and have become irrelevant in the current political matrix," said Dr Chombo.

Meanwhile, analysts say today's violence should be thoroughly investigated and perpetrators should be brought to book.

"Such acts are unacceptable. Relevant authorities should institute thorough investigations so that perpetrators are brought to book," Mr James Makiya said.

Another analyst, Dr Davison Gomo condemned the forces behind such hooliganism, saying "whoever is behind such acts of violence has no space in the democratic society like Zimbabwe."