Charles Muchemwa, who in 2008 contested the Mazowe South House of Assembly seat for the MDC-T, was beaten up by more than 10 party members, most of them youths for wearing a Zanu-PF t-shirt, who were on their way to a rally in Mufakose. Muchemwa was wearing a t-shirt bearing the images of Zanu PF Gokwe-Nembudziya MP Justice Mayor Wadyajena.
According to an eye witness who spoke to NewZimbabwe.com, the singing MDC-T youths who were in a van spotted the unsuspecting Muchemwa and angrily pounced on him. Said the eye witness:
They grabbed him and beat him thoroughly before they jumped back into their car. However, Muchemwa managed to hold on to one of the guys and this forced the others who wanted to flee from the scene to stop and start negotiating with him. It was after Muchemwa had refused to negotiate while holding one of the youths by his belt that the team of MDC-T guys in the party red attire offered him $35 that he released him.
In an interview with NewZimbabwe.com on Monday, Muchemwa confirmed that he was beaten up, but denied accepting the $35 bribe saying he had reported the matter to Marimba Police Station. However, MDC-T youth leader Happymore Chidziva dismissed the allegations.
More: NewZimbabwe.com