Youths disrupts MDC-T meeting

MDC-T youths disrupted an executive meeting in Gwabalanda on Sunday torching clashes between party members as violence and factionalism within the structures in Bulawayo continue.

The meeting was called off as the youths believed to have been bussed to bulldoze into the meeting fought with those from Gwabalanda who were in the meeting.

It is alleged that the meeting turned more violent as the two factions started throwing stones at each other and in the process damaging property from three nearby houses.

The meeting was being held at a house, Number 4286 in the suburb where provincial executive members were meeting the local branch members to iron out issues surrounding the suspension of the branch chairman.

It is alleged that the group of youths was not happy about the recent suspension of Gwabalanda branch, chairman Mr Robert Mlilo.

Sources said the youths had earlier petitioned the provincial leadership over the conduct of senior officials in the branch who were firing party members under unclear circumstances. The dismissals were believed to have been fuelled by factionalism.

Six of the youths yesterday appeared in court each facing a charge of public violence.

The six are Nqobile Malikongwa (23), of 6950 Cowdray Park; Tawanda Dube (23), of 1665 Old Luveve; Hapson Nyasha Ncube (28), of 3285 Cowdray Park; Philip Lunga (26), of 3234 Old Luveve; Reginald Ndlovu (23), of 3234 Old Luveve and George Moyo (19) of 5123 Gwabalanda, all members of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai party’s youth wing.

Moyo is the son of Luveve Member of the House of Assembly, Mr Reggie Moyo.

They appeared before Miss Marilyn Mutshina at the Bulawayo magistrate courts who remanded them in custody to today.

Allegations against Malikongwa, Dube, Ncube, Lunga, Ndlovu and Moyo are that on Sunday they allegedly stormed into an executive meeting without the approval of members of the executive.

While in the yard, the court heard, they were confronted by the organising secretary, Mr Cornelius Sibanda who told them that they were not allowed in the meeting.

The court heard that Mr Sibanda told them that only youths from the local branch were allowed into the meeting and asked them to leave.

The youths were allegedly in the company of the suspended Mr Mlilo who was also denied entry by Mr Sibanda but forced his way in.

The court heard that Mr Mlilo confronted Mr Sibanda telling him that the youths had a right to attend the meeting. The meeting was immediately called off resulting in skirmishes between the two groups of youths.

It is alleged that the two parties started throwing stones and in the process damaged windowpanes and roofing sheets at three houses.

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