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ZANU PF, opposition supporters clash ahead of by-election
Regerai Marwezu, ZimOnline
May 28, 2007

http://www.zimonline.co.za/Article.aspx?ArticleId=1440

MASVINGO - Scores of people were injured at the weekend when ruling ZANU PF party youths clashed with opposition supporters at Bvukururu business centre two weeks before a low-key by-election in the Zaka East constituency.

United People's Party (UPP) provincial co-ordinator Anthony Kundishora told ZimOnline that several of his party's supporters were injured following the violent clashes at the business centre last Friday.

"We had a rally at the business centre on Friday afternoon. While our rally was on, ZANU PF youths raided the business centre and ordered all shops to close down.

"They (ZANU PF youths) started beating up everyone and some of our officials and supporters were injured," said Kundishora.

Kundishora said ZANU PF had sought to shut out the opposition party from campaigning in Zaka East saying chiefs were under strict instructions not to allow any political party other than ZANU PF from campaigning ahead of the by-election on June 9.

"We are failing to campaign effectively because traditional chiefs are under strict instructions not to allow any political party to campaign in the area," he added.

Police in Masvingo confirmed that there were political clashes in Zaka last Friday but sought to play down the incident saying it was minor.

"We are just investigating a minor case in which ZANU PF and UPP supporters clashed at Bvukururu business centre," said Masvingo police spokesperson Inspector Phibion Nyambo.

"We have not arrested anyone since it was a minor incident but the election campaign period has generally been peaceful," said Nyambo.

ZANU PF's Livingstone Chineka, will lock horns with Sheila Zenga of the UPP and Lameck Batsirai of the little-known United People's Democratic Party in the by-election that is being boycotted by both factions of the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party.

The by-election was called to fill in a seat left vacant following the death of ZANU PF legislator Tinos Rusere last February.

Human rights groups and Zimbabwean opposition parties have often accused ZANU PF of unleashing party youths and war veterans to beat up and harass opposition supporters during election times.

ZANU PF however denies the charge saying the MDC and other opposition groups are bad losers who refuse to magnanimously accept defeat at the polls. - ZimOnline

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