MIDWEEK REPORTER
NEMAMWA-Zanu PF candidate for Masvingo Central Constituency, Eddison Zvobgo (Jnr) has denounced Citizens Coalition for Change members for engaging in violent campaigns in Ward 20 yesterday (06-05-23).
“President Mnangagwa is on record urging everyone to desist from using violence during campaigning and that has also been our clarion call.
“Unfortunately, CCC has decided to engage in violence by beating up our supporters for putting on their party regalia, we condemn such behaviour in strongest terms. Yesterday they beat up two of our youths who were going about their business for just putting on their party regalia with President Mnangagwa’s face.
“Some elderly women had to shield the youths from the marauding CCC mob who were baying for their blood and we understand the perpetrators are not from Nemamwa, this must stop forthwith,” said a fuming Zvobgo.
Ward 20 Zanu PF aspiring candidate, William Shangwa told The Midweek Watch that indeed there was violence yesterday in his ward and the matter was reported to the Police (name of investigating officer supplied).
Shangwa said Zanu PF had just finished their Nemamwa Branch meeting at Sithole in Chirengarenga Village and as they were leaving they met two lorries with CCC supporters coming from a memorial service at Mufamba Homestead under Halfmeya Village.
It is alleged that one of the lories stopped and asked two youths, Wellington Mangwiro, Zanu PF district youth chair and Tapiwa Matole whom they allegedly confronted for wearing their party regalia.
Shangwa said the gang which was putting on CCC regalia started beating up the two and some elderly women had to intervene to stop the beatings.
“The two youths were badly injured and the matter was reported to the Police. We are not happy at all as we want everyone to campaign peacefully for the coming elections.
“We are from the same community and there is no need to fight each other, instead we should be greeting each other when we meet as political opponents not enemies,” said Shangwa.
Masvingo Urban Coucillor Aleck Tabe confirmed that there was violence and said its only that Zanu PF were the first to report to the Police but they are the ones who started to attack their supporters.
Tabe added that they have since decided not to report the matter to the Police since no one was injured.
Masvingo Urban Constituency CCC aspiring candidate and human rights defender, Advocate Martin Mureri said they do not condone any acts of political violence from any quarter as that scares away good people from participating in politics.
Efforts to get a comment from ZRP community liaison and public relations officer, Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa were fruitless as his mobile phone was not being answered until the time of posting the story.
