By Own Correspondent| Three people are feared dead after violence rocked Mbizo suburb in President Emerson Mnangagwa’s hometown Kwekwe on Friday.
Sources from the National Patriotic Front (NPF) alleged that the violence was perpetrated by Zanu Pf supporters against its members.
On Friday, it is alleged that machete wielding Zanu Pf youths went on a rampage attacking NPF supporters in violence which saw two people die soon after the attack while the third person succumbed to injuries sustained from the clashes yesterday (Saturday).
Former Kwekwe Central Member of Parliament Masango Matambanadzo confirmed the deaths saying the bodies of the three were at Kwekwe General Hospital.
Matambanadzo told an NPF rally that the increasing number of people who were axed to death by Zanu Pf supporters was worrisome.
“The number of people being axed to death at illegal gold mining sites by alleged machete wielding Zanu Pf supporters is worrisome,” said Matambanadzo.
Zanu Pf’s aspiring candidate Vongai Mupereri, a close relative of President Emmerson Mnangagwa was reportedly fingered to be supporting the violence. However, Zanu Pf’s Midlands Provincial Spokesperson, Cornelius Mupereri dismissed claims that the attacks were politically motivated adding that this was purely a criminal case.
“The people involved are not Zanu Pf and I think this violence was not politically motivated,” he said.
“I believe that the Mbizo violence is a criminal case. I am however not privy to the details but I think that this is a criminal case. I do not know anything about the deaths,” he said.
Efforts to get a comment from the police were futile.
NPF National Political Commissar, Jim Kunaka last week alleged that Zimbabwe would not hold free, fair or credible polls under President Mnangagwa’s administration.
Kunaka alleged that because Zanu Pf was a political party with violence in its DNA, as the election date draws closer, violence would be unleashed to citizens.
“Mnangagwa preaches peace when he is in public.
Free, fair and credible elections is mere rhetoric for podiums but on the ground, things will get worse as we head towards elections,” alleged Kunaka.