December 17th, 2008
By Moses Muchemwa
Bulawayo (ZimEye)-Intra-party violence has rocked Zanu-PF as party members were involved in violent skirmishes during Harare provincial elections.
There were violent clashes between supporters of former Zanu-PF Harare chairman Amos Midzi and Harare South House of Assembly member Hubert Nyanhongo, as power struggle reared its ugly head, on Monday night.
Midzi and his deputy Christopher Chigumba had to scurry for cover from the election venue after an angry mob deflated their vehicle tyres and beat up their supporters.
As violence escalated, some rogue Zanu-PF elements even threw stones at policemen who tried to quell the rampaging Nyanhongo backers. The police officers did not arrest anyone, letting the bloodthirsty Zanu-PF member scot-free.
The polls were first slated for 30 November, but were postponed twice on account of violent clashes between supporters of both Nyanhongo and Midzi.
The typical violent Zanu-PF supporters fought over the composition of the electoral college, which should be made up of members drawn from the districts and the six district co-ordinating committees.
Zanu-PF deputy secretary for the commissariat Richard Ndlovu, later endorsed Nyanhongo as the Harare provincial chairman.
Analysts say the violence that erupted at the Zanu-PF meeting showed that the party was the hand causing havoc throughout the country. Scores of political opponents have been abducted and killed.
(ZimEye, Zimbabwe)
(moses muchemwa is a journalist and partner with the ZimEye. He can be contacted at mmuchemwa@zimeye.com)
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