Zanu PF has indefinitely suspended Kwekwe primary elections after yesterday’s violent clashes as 2 rival groups within the party backed different candidates, the Chronicle repost. The ruling party said the clashes were caused by suspected illegal gold panners (Makorokoza).
The bloody by-elections suspension was revealed by Zanu PF Midlands provincial spokesperson Cornelius Mupereri who said the
Zanu-PF Midlands provincial leadership yesterday suspended indefinitely Kwekwe primary elections after rowdy youths suspected to be illegal gold miners invaded the district party office and started beating up everyone, including polling agents.
Narrating what transpired at the Kwekwe primary elections in which 2 vehicles were reportedly destroyed, Zanu-PF Midlands Provincial chairman, Daniel Mackenzie Ncube said:
As the voting process was beginning to start, some rowdy youths, most of them gold panners from the surrounding mines, came and disrupted the elections. They beat up everyone, including polling agents. They also stoned vehicles and investigations are going on to establish the motive behind the violence.
We have suspended the elections in Kwekwe indefinitely as we still try to investigate the hand behind the violence. We are a party of peace and unity, so we want to do a complete investigation while we assist the police in these investigations.
Owen Mudha Ncube who unconfirmed reports claim is the godfather of illegal miners in Midlands ‘s nephew backers and outspoken Zanu PF’s political commissar candidate clashed at the elections and ZRP had to be called to attend to the situation.
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