MP Trudy Stevenson and three colleagues severely assaulted

VIOLENCE reared its ugly head within the opposition camp with legislator, Trudy Stevenson, the Harare North MP, being attacked allegedly by members of the Morgan Tsvangirai-led MDC.

The Mutambara MDC, to which Stevenson belongs, has made serious allegations against the Tsvangirai MDC saying youth from the camp had attacked Stevenson and three other colleagues leaving them for dead.

The MP and the three provincial executive members were attacked Sunday and severely assaulted by a mob of about 40 youths. Stevenson alleges the attackers were from the Tsvangirai group in Mabvuku.

Police investigations are underway and some names were provided by the Mutambara MDC in their statement. Officials from the Tsvangirai MDC have denied playing any role in the attack.

Speaking from the Avenues hospital where she is receiving treatment Stevenson said she recognised one of the thugs that attacked her as Tonderai Ndira, who was suspended from the MDC for violence last year.

“And that is definitely a Tsvangirai person… and in fact I believe it was Tonderai who took one of the vehicles by force as well (last year) and they have never returned the vehicle despite a court order.”

Tendai Biti, secretary general for the Tsvangirai MDC, denied any involvement in the attack by their members and said none of those in police custody were familiar to him. Biti added that should any of the perpetrators be proven to be members of their party, they would be expelled immediately.

According to the Mutambara MDC Trudy and company “were waylaid near Circle Cement as the thugs blocked the road and threw stones at their car, smashing the windscreen and windows. The mob pounced on the MDC officials and attacked them with an assortment of missiles, which included stones, iron bars and sticks.

The thugs searched the victims as they lay helplessly on the ground and got away with three cell-phones valued at more than Z$600 million, more than Z$20 million in cash, two hand bags, two pairs of shoes and other important valuables including wedding rings.”

Biti said that he is the MP in Harare east, the area where the incident took place. He stressed that this part of Harare is peaceful and quiet and has not known any violence because it is up market.

Biti also said that since the party’s congress no officials from the Tsvangirai MDC have spoken in public using derogatory language against their colleagues in the Mutambara MDC.

He said in fact behind closed doors there are efforts going on to bring a better understanding between the two MDC camps. He said it is tragic that this attack took place at a time when things are happening to bring the two sides closer.

Stevenson and MDC official Mrs Manyere were rushed to the Avenues Clinic in a police truck where it was confirmed by a doctor that Stevenson had a broken wrist and sustained head injuries. A scan on Linos Mushonga, who was also attacked, showed that he had two broken fingers.

The Mutambara MDC said seven of the assailants had been positively identified as members from the Tsvangirai camp, a position denied by Biti.