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(HERALD) Violence rears ugly head at MDC-T rally

Violence rears ugly head at MDC-T rally
Saturday, 10 September 2011 23:42 Top Stories
Sunday Mail Reporter

INTRA-PARTY violence once again rocked the MDC-T when its youths engaged in frenzied fist fights in full view of more than 20 foreign diplomats who were part of the crowd attending the party’s 12th anniversary commemoration at Harare’s Gwanzura Stadium yesterday.

Party leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai was left with egg on his face following the violent clashes which he sought to downplay in his address by blaming Zanu-PF for the political violence that has erupted in some parts of the country recently.
Mr Tsvangirai’s efforts to shift blame to Zanu-PF were, however, in vain as the diplomats had first-hand experience of the MDC-T’s propensity for violence.

The ugly scenes erupted after youths clashed along the Biti-Tsvangirai factional lines. A mob of Chitungwiza youths, who were led by their organising secretary Tyson Ngwena, forced entry from the northern stands into the playing field which was reserved for VIPs.

All hell broke loose when the youths fought fiercely against other supporters and security officials who tried to control them.

MDC-T organising secretary Mr Nelson Chamisa had to rush from the podium where he was addressing the crowd in an attempt to control the youths whilst other officials who included Deputy Media, Information Publicity Minister Mr Murisi Zwizwai also intervened to stop the melee.

The commotion continued at the stadium when Mr Tsvangirai was delivering his keynote address as some supporters in the western stand engaged in fierce fighting and also attacked anyone whom they suspected of being Zanu-PF supporters.

Again, the MDC leadership was forced to intervene when deputy organising secretary Abednico Bhebhe went into the crowd to address the hooligans.

In an interview at the end of the celebrations, Mr Chamisa tried to downplay the violence, saying it was not serious.

“They were just youths from Chitungwiza who were over-excited,” he said.
Harare police spokesperson Inspector James Sabau said the MDC had denied police officers access to the stadium.

“We did not have an opportunity to deal with the violence because the MDC said they had their own security officials. We only deployed officers outside the stadium and surrounding areas,” he said.

In his speech, Mr Tsvangirai ironically blamed Zanu-PF for perpetrating violence in the country.

“For 12 years, you and me survived violence and intimidation. For 12 years we have braved brutality and entrenched dictatorship,” he said.

Mr Tsvangirai, however, conceded that the inclusive Govern-ment had made great strides in improving the lives of ordinary Zimbabweans.

“The inclusive Government is a collective government and it is not Zanu-PF or MDC.

“We have a lot of frustrations in the inclusive Government, but what cannot be denied is that the GNU has improved the lives of Zimba-bweans.

“However the inclusive Government has not created jobs and the biggest time bomb that we have is that young people are educated but unemployed,” he said.

In her speech, Women’s Assembly chairperson Mrs Theresa Makone courted controversy once again when she urged women in the party to fight Zanu-PF youths.

The violent scenes at Gwanzura came soon after the MDC-T announced that it had launched an investigation into several incidents of intra-party violence that occurred before the party’s congress in Bulawayo in April.

Labels: MDC, MDC VIOLENCE, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, POLITICAL VIOLENCE, THERESA MAKONE

posted by MrK @ 3:15 PM