HARARE - Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC has said Zanu PF “thugs” in Shangani stoned and injured at least three party members heading for the 13th MDC anniversary.

MDC spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora told the Daily News yesterday that three party members wrere admitted at Mpilo General Hospital after the weekend barbaric attack.

“Some of our members were attacked at Shangani by a group of Zanu PF supporters while travelling to Bulawayo,” Mwonzora said. “A group of Zanu PF supporters wearing party T-shirts stoned our buses carrying our supporters and this saw three of our members severely injured and they are at Mpilo Hospital.”

No comment was immediately available from Matabeleland South police spokesperson Sergeant Nkosilathi Sibanda as he was out of office yesterday.

The continuous escalation of violence cases has heightened mainstream MDC’s call for reforms before the forthcoming election.

During the attack on MDC supporters, one person identified as Darlington Serewu was severely injured while Trust Shayanewako is in Intensive Care Unit at Mpilo General Hospital.

In an emergency response to the violent developments, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka told the media in Gweru that the country cannot go for the next election without a solution to political violence.

“We cannot go to the next election without coming up with lasting solutions. The electoral reforms should be observed. This violence explains what to expect ahead of the election slated for March next year. The next election should be centred on reforms and not date-driven,” said Tamborinyoka.

“We need to put our house in order instead of thumb-sucking a figure. The recent violent encounter is a clear indication that Zimbabwe is not ready for an election, despite President Mugabe’s call for elections in March next year,” he added.

Meanwhile, six other MDC supported were seriously injured while travelling from Bulawayo when a commuter omnibus they were travelling in burst a front tyre on the 40km peg along Gweru Kwekwe road.

Some of the accident victims were hospitalised at Gweru General Hospital include Tendai Moyo, Fanny Nyoni, Tinasher Karikodzi and Ruth Chinanayi among other. -
Pindai Dube and Alfred Tembo