By A Correspondent- Over 200 Zanu PF supporters, who were camped at the party’s headquarters in Mutare calling for the ouster of Manicaland provincial chairperson Mike Madiro were Tuesday restrained by Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister Nokuthula Matsikenyere.

Matsikenyere told a local publication that she was sent to address and disperse the angry demonstrators by Zanu PF acting political commissar Patrick Chinamasa.

The party members, including war veterans, had been camped at the party headquarters in Mutare since Sunday, accusing Madiro of imposing candidates in the party’s internal district elections in the province.

Matsikenyere said:

People were not happy with the elections. They are claiming provincial chairperson Mike Madiro was an interested party and was not supposed to have monitored the elections.

It is not fair that Madiro is monitoring elections where he is also an interested party.

If it means that I have to contact President Emmerson Mnangagwa over the issue, I am going to do so.

Matsikenyere told NewsDay that after her address, the furious demonstrators left for their respective districts.

Madiro is accused of undermining party structures in the province and abusing his perceived enemies in his quest to retain the chairmanship in provincial elections to be held later this year.

On Sunday, there were bloody fights in Harare, Manicaland, Mashonaland West and Midlands provinces.-Newsday