Zimbabwean police have reported yet another clash between rival groups within the country’s ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front party (Zanu-PF).
Police in the remote, central district of Gokwe say two groups of angry supporters — each backing different contestants in primary elections — clashed at a small rural business centre ”damaging a lot of property”.
One group was allegedly supporting the current Member of Parliament for the district, Lovemore Mupukuta, while the other group supported aspiring candidate Shadrek Sayi.
Police spokesperson Wayne Bvudzijena confirmed the incident.
”One of the candidates reported the matter to the police after his Mazda pick-up had been stoned,” he said.
One arrest had been made, police confirmed, adding that investigations were still under way.
The clash is the third between rival groups of Zanu-PF supporters in recent months. In December, Zanu-PF lawmaker for the rural district of Makonde, Kindness Paradza, was arrested for inciting public violence.
Meanwhile, ruling party supporters have staged two demonstrations against their leaders in Harare in the last week. A demonstration on Monday forced President Robert Mugabe, who was present, to back down over the controversial issue of imposing candidates for Zanu-PF primary elections set for 15 January. – Sapa-AFP