POLICE yesterday arrested nine MDC-T supporters who were on a clean-up exercise after a violent confrontation with Zanu PF youths in Chitungwiza.

Although police could not immediately confirm the arrests, MDCT-T spokesman Nelson Chamisa said the youths were being held at the Chitungwiza police station.

Trouble started when Zanu PF youths allegedly tried to disrupt the clean-up operation at Makoni Shopping center around lunch time.

An MDC-T official said the Zanu PF youths pounced on the party’s supporters without any provocation after they had carried out similar clean-up campaigns in Unit H and D suburbs.

“As a party we are disappointed by the actions of Zanu PF and I can confirm that efforts are in progress to investigate the issue,” Chamisa said.

The Chitungwiza incident comes hard on the heels of violent clashes between MDC-T and Zanu PF supporters in Mbare last week.

MDC-T issued a strongly worded statement on the violence amid increasing fears that the country is sliding back to the dark days that preceded the unity government.

“The party wishes to caution the perpetrators that they are spoiling for conflagration and unnecessary mayhem from which Zanu PF would emerge as a crying loser,” read the statement.

“Against this background, the MDC calls on the police to act decisively on the purported evictions and the violence in Mbare.

“That Zanu PF youth leaders can dislodge and harass innocent and law abiding citizens with impunity is totally unacceptable.”

By The Standard