VIOLENCE flared once again between opposing forces in a faction of the MDC-T party led by former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai ahead of an elective congress next month.
Chitungwiza provincial chairman Alexio Musundire is again in the eye of the storm following a vicious attack on expelled councillor, Rangarirai Mutingwende, Wednesday night in Harare’s dormitory town.
Former St Mary’s legislator and returning activist Job Sikhala expressed disgust over the clashes and called on Tsvangirai to act quickly to stem the tide of violence.
“He has to do something before people kill each other,” Sikhala told NewZimbabwe.com.
“All Zimbabweans across the political divide, we have a major responsibility to wage a tenacious war against political violence in our midst,” he wrote.
“The world has moved miles ahead in frowning against any form of political violence. There should never be any mistaken view from anyone about my determination to wage a vicious war against violence.
“My advice to those from my party is that, those who are disposed to violence to cow competitors are a tiny minority, a minority that we should deal with.”
Violence was also blamed for the party’s split by a faction backing deputy treasurer Elton Mangoma and secretary general Tendai Biti which is now forming a separate political party.
Mangoma was attacked by pro-Tsvangirai activists after he told the former prime minister to step down to make way for a new leadership.
“In this bigoted pursuit, what they don't know is that they will be destroying the brand of the party and vilify the person of our president,” he said.
“His (Tsvangirai’s) enemies jump to connect any form of violence to him. So the committers of violence are not the supporters of the party or the president. They are individuals pursuing a totally different agenda”.
“According to reports I received, Mutingwende was beaten by fellow gamblers. I did not take part in the incident as I was asleep at my house when the assault happened.
“I have no reason to have wanted to beat him up,” the Zengeza East lawmaker said.
“On Tuesday, whilst I was in Goromonzi, I was phoned by an unknown person who was requesting for a meeting. I told the caller that I could not meet him as I was out of town and I did not know his identity,” said Mutingwende.
“The caller then insisted that as I was in the structures of the party, I was supposed to meet with Simon Chidhakwa, legislator for Zengeza West but l told him that I was not in town.”
He said he was then trailed by a gang of four men who then pounced on him.
“They then struck my head with iron bars before assaulting me all over the body calling out … unoda kutonga Chitungwiza ndiwe ani? (You think you can rule Chitungwiza … who are you?),” he said.
“We are moving towards congress and I strongly believe that my assault was politically motivated. I believe that Musundire was behind the attack.