Court orders Zanu PF, Mukupe to rein in violent supporters

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By Staff Reporter

HIGH Court judge, Esther Muremba has ordered Zanu PF party and its Harare East candidate Terrence Mukupe to stop disrupting the opposition MDC Alliance’s political party campaigns.

Mukupe is also deputy minister of finance.

Justice Muremba on Wednesday ordered Zanu PF party and Mukupe to take effective measures to prevent the ruling party and Mukupe’s campaign agents and supporters from engaging in politically motivated violence, intimidation and causing disruptions of rallies, meetings or any gatherings organised by the Nelson Chamisa-led MDC Alliance.

The interdict came after the MDC Alliance and six of its party supporters petitioned the Electoral Court on Monday protesting that some Zanu PF supporters had committed several electoral malpractices against them on 18 July 2018 in Harare East constituency.

The MDC Alliance supporters were Emmanuel Gumbo, Clement Daudi, Tapiwanashe Zongoro, Coster Kazingizi, Stewart Manyika, Prince Mutebuka and were represented by Tinomuda Shoko of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.

They argued that their political rights were violated after some Zanu PF party supporters disrupted a political rally in Caledonia, a high-density suburb located in Harare East constituency where the MDC Alliance’s Tendai Biti is vying to become legislator against Mukupe and other aspiring candidates.

The MDC Alliance supporters said their rivals, acting under the instructions of Mukupe, randomly and mercilessly pelted some vehicles and MDC Alliance supporters with stones.

The incident allegedly resulted in two MDC Alliance supporters Clement Daudi and Prince Mutebuka sustaining injuries from the assault by some Zanu PF supporters while Coster Kazingizi’s vehicle was damaged.

The opposition argued that the Zanu PF supporters’ conduct affected the fairness of Monday’s while creating an uneven playing field for contestants.