Violence breaks out at MDC-T headquarters

By Staff Reporter

Violence broke out outside the MDC-T Harvest House headquarters in Harare on Saturday as party supporters allegedly assaulted party Deputy Treasurer General Elton Mangoma and other officials accused of seeking the ouster of party leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

Earlier Tsvangirai had met over 210 provincial leaders in a meeting that was dogged by allegations that Mashonaland East chairman Piniel Denga, Tapfumaneyi Wunganai Muzoda (Organising Secretary) had barred Samuel Machekanyanga (Marondera East District Chair) from entering the building.

All hell broke loose when it was time to go home as the protestors outside were baying for Mangoma’s blood and allegedly assaulted him. Youth Assembly Secretary General Promise Mkwananzi was also assaulted while his boss Solomon Madzore was holed up in the building unable to leave.

Both Madzore and Mkwananzi were accused of supporting a faction of the party allegedly led by Secretary General Tendai Biti. According to sources Biti escaped the mob by leaving the building with Tsvangirai. One source said he “escaped holding Tsvangirai’s jacket.”

National police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said investigations were in progress. No arrests had been made by Saturday night.

“I can confirm that concerned citizens rushed to Harare Central Police Station to alert our officers that Mr Mangoma had been assaulted. We are still gathering information to ascertain who was behind the attack and waiting for an official report from Mr Mangoma or his party,” Charamba said.

According to Mangoma: “The attack happened after the meeting ended at about 1700 hours. Alert the possibility of violence, we had agreed that I would emerge from the building by Tsvangirai’s side and depart in the leader’s vehicle in order to avoid disturbances.

“But once we emerged from the building, I realised that Tsvangirai was, somehow, no longer by my side. I was then attacked while he watched and he certainly did nothing to discourage the mob. My sense was that he had prior knowledge that there would be violence.

“This is a very disappointing development; even Zanu PF does not set party supporters to beat up its leaders. The attack shows that we are dealing with very desperate and, therefore, very dangerous people; people who cannot respond to ideas with ideas – they resort to violence instead.

“The MDC is supposed to be a democratic – not a fighting party. We should be tolerant and accepting of criticism and divergence of views. You can’t turn violent mobs against your colleagues,” Mangoma said.

Zimbabwe Democracy Institute director Pedzisai Ruhanya told Nehanda Radio “We condemn this totally undemocratic behaviour. Violence is a political culture that we must not tolerate and we expect the MDC leadership to take strong action against these perpetrators.

“Surely this is not the democracy that they purport to champion. It depicts the MDC as democratic charlatans not different from ZANU PF,” he added.

Meanwhile MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora told journalists that the chairpersons during the meeting had rejected Mangoma’s proposals for Tsvangirai to resign.

“The district chairpersons endorsed President Morgan Tsvangirai as leader and from what I have seen he is likely to be our candidate in the 2018 elections. As happened with the national executive and the standing Committee Mangoma’s proposals were rejected,” said Mwonzora.

Harvest of Thorns: Mangoma Assault in Pictures