A Newsday story that appeared today reported that the opposition MDC Secretary-General Douglas Mwonzora has called for the arrest and disqualification of candidates fomenting violence in the party following ugly skirmishes that rocked the party’s at the district congress in Chitungwiza and Chegutu over the weekend.
In Chitungwiza, party leader Nelson Chamisa’s supporters allegedly physically assaulted secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora’s sympathisers at the weekend, leaving Chitungwiza former deputy mayor Jabulani Mtunzi and several other party activists seriously injured and hospitalized at Chitungwiza Central Hospital.
Mtunzi is a Mwonzora ally.
Mwonzora confirmed the incident yesterday, and called for the perpetrators’ arrest and disqualification of candidates fomenting violence.
“The violence that is taking place is extremely disconcerting,” he told NewsDay.
“We will disqualify the violent elements from the congress race, but this violence has to be nipped in the bud.
“These people who perpetrate violence are criminals who belong in jail. The leaders in whose name these goons operate must publicly denounce violence, failure which they will be held responsible for the violence and disqualified, whoever they are.”
He confirmed that most of the victims were his supporters, but could not confirm allegations that the perpetrators were acting on Chamisa’s orders.
Mwonzora said he had not yet officially made up his mind which post to contest at the congress, although sources close to him said he was eyeing Chamisa’s presidency.
Both Mwonzora and Chamisa squared off in the 2014 elective congress where they contesting for the secretary-general’s position.
Chamisa lost the race, but was later handpicked for the party’s vice-presidency by the now late MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
Mwonzora was reported yesterday saying founding party leader Morgan Tsvangirai must be turning in his grave following a recent spike in violent attacks within the party as the congress nears.
The MDC goes for Congress from 24 to 26 May.