The Sunday News
Michael Magoronga, Midlands Correspondent
KWEKWE’s Ward 6 councillor MaClean Nyamucherera was last Thursday picked up by police for his alleged role in the violence that rocked the ruling Zanu-PF primary elections at the beginnig of October.
The primary elections, set to choose a candidate to stand for the party in the looming by-elections, were abruptly called off after violence erupted.
Police officers and polling agents were attacked by youths who alleged vote buying and deliberate delays of the voting process, among a number of other allegations.
Zanu-PF Midlands provincial vice-chairman Cde Robert Nyathi, who was presiding over the primaries also left the venue in a huff following the melee.
The primaries pitted clergyman, Bishop Kandros Mugabe and Cde Energy Ncube, who both aspire to represent the party in Kwekwe Central constituency following the death of Mr Masango Matambanadzo of the National Patriotic Front.
Nyamucherera last week appeared before Kwekwe magistrate, Mrs Cheryl Tembo facing public violence charges.
He was granted $2 000 bail and will be back in court on 18 November for commencement of trial.
The State led by Mr Kudakwashe Mazorodze allege that on 4 October at about 1pm, Nyamucherera together with accomplices who have since appeared in court and others who are still at large, forcibly and to a serious extent disturbed peace, security and order of the public.
The team, who felt disgruntled over the voting process, allegedly assaulted people with stones, open hands, fists and damaged vehicles following a misunderstanding over the voting processes.
During the melee, Nyamucherera is alleged to have damaged the front windscreen of a Mazda Excella using stones.
The State also alleges that the youths attacked police officers and attempted to disarm one of them amid the confusion.
Nyamucherera becomes the eighth person to be arrested in connection with the violence. Seven others, Maisva Zvidzai, Mawire Burden, Tafadzwa Mutema, Amon Mutondorwa, Elliot Gideon, Mutandwa Itai, and Brian Hokoyo who were also arrested by police last week, were released on bail.
They will also return to court on 18 November for trial. A committee has since been set up by the party to investigate the violence and has since promised to get to the bottom of the matter.
