MDC-T Launches Probe Into Intra-Party Violence

WASHINGTON —  The MDC wing of former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai says it has launched investigations into the outbreak of violence at the party’s headquarters in Harare Saturday where several officials were assaulted by a mob of youths said to be aligned to the veteran trade unionist and politician.

The violence broke out after a meeting of district chairmen where a number of issues, including the contentious topic of leadership renewal in the party, were discussed.

Dozens of youths who were milling outside Harvest House, the venue of the meeting, turned on former energy minister Elton Mangoma and attacked him for allegedly calling for Tsvangirai to resign. His shirt was torn in the process.

Mangoma is the party’s deputy treasurer general. He alleges Tsvangirai has not called him following the incident to check on him but Tsvangirai’s charges are denying that.

“Firstly, an impression is being created that president Tsvangirai was complicit in the alleged violence and did not do anything to assist the situation. Nothing could be further from the truth,” Luke Tamborinyoka, the MDC leader’s spokesman said in a statement.

“The president came down the building after an eight-hour robust and deliberative leadership meeting with all district chairpersons from across the country and addressed restive party supporters, imploring upon them to desist from harassing any member of the party.”

Secretary General Tendai Biti, who is accused together with Mangoma and other senior officials in the party like treasurer Roy Bennett of pushing Tsvangirai to resign, was lucky to escape the unruly youth unscathed. He’s said to have jumped into Tsvangirai’s car to avoid the youths.

Also assaulted was Youth Assembly Secretary General Promise Mkhwananzi.
Party spokesman Douglas Mwonzora told VOA the MDC-T will ‘weed out’ violent characters from the party.

“We are going to get to the bottom of this matter and deal decisively with the culprits,” he said.