Mliswa arrested over Hurungwe violence
Businessman Temba Mliswa was arrested following skirmishes where Hurungwe East legislator Sarah Mahoka was injured in an attack by youths while trying to address a meeting at Zimonja Business Centre in Zvipani.
Mahoka was admitted to Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital after the attack. The business centre is in Hurungwe West. Police have also vowed to arrest all perpetrators of violence regardless of their political affiliation.
Meanwhile, chief police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed Mliswa’s arrest.
“Temba Mliswa was invited for questioning in connection with the skirmishes that occurred in Hurungwe as we continue with investigations on the case,” she said.
Mliswa was still being questioned by the police at Hurungwe Police Station late yesterday evening. It is reported that 13 youths attacked Mahoka and deflated three tyres on her vehicle.
Deputy national police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Oliver Mandipaka urged political activists to desist from all forms of violence.
“Generally the country has been peaceful except for a few cases that have been reported. And as the ZRP we still maintain our zero tolerance on any forms of violence,” he said.
But on Saturday night, a 12-year-old boy was set ablaze by Zanu PF militias in a shocking case of political violence. Christpower Simbarashe Maisiri of Headlands died after Zanu PF thugs burnt down the hut he was sleeping in.
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC said Christpower’s father, Shepherd, is the party’s local deputy organising secretary and is on the ticket to stand as an MDC-T candidate in the forthcoming general elections.
See pictures of the boy burnt to death by Zanu PF thugs
Meanwhile four MDC-T members including an aspiring councillor for Ward 22 in Seke have been arrested on allegations of tearing President Mugabe and the late veteran nationalist Retired General Solomon Mujuru’s posters.
The four are the aspiring councillor Fanuel Kamurendo (31) who is also employed by the Chitungwiza Municipality, Shelton Masamba (26), Tendai Kamurendo (26) and Wilbert Ndiweni (33).
“We confirm the arrest of the four and investigations are still in progress,” Chief Supt Mandipaka said.
He said the four were in the company of 30 other MDC-T supporters in Ward 22, Unit O, pasting on walls, electrical poles and trees their party posters campaigning for a “Yes’’ vote for the referendum.
“They then went to the Zanu-PF’s Ward 22 offices manned by a receptionist and confronted her. They accused Zanu-PF of forcing people to join its structures and demanded to know why. They then tore the pictures of President Mugabe and the late General Mujuru from the wall before they left,” he said.
Chief Supt Mandipaka said they went to Ward 18 in Unit L where they met a group of Zanu-PF youths leading to skirmishes. He said two people were injured in the fight.
“Investigations are in progress to account for both the Zanu-PF and MDC-T suspects who were directly involved in these skirmishes. We urge all political parties to desist from politically motivated violence. They should go about their business with due respect to the laws of the country,” Mandipaka said.
