Police in Sanyati have issued a warrant of arrest for Mines and Mining Development Deputy Minister Polite Kambamura, who is also the local MP (ZANU PF).
Kambamura allegedly mobilised youths to attack party rivals holding a meeting at Nyimo business centre on Thursday.
Several ZANU officials were injured in the violence when rowdy youths ran amok and attacked district chairpersons from ARDA, Rusvingo and Nyaunde.
NewsDay reported a police officer who declined to be named as saying three people have been arrested in connection with the violence and Kambamura and one William Pariyangiwa are yet to be arrested. Said the police officer:
Three people namely, Enock Chimombe, Sithabile Bhebhe, and Joseph Siampongo have been arrested for public violence and have been transferred to Kadoma Law and Order section. They will appear in court soon.
The outstanding two who are yet to be arrested are Polite Kambamura and William Pariyangiwa.
The complainant in the case is ZANU PF ARDA district chairperson Sylvester Mhirizhonga, who reported the case under RRB5413524. He said:
I can confirm that three people who were part of a gang that beat us yesterday have been arrested. They were picked up by police in the morning.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said he was unaware of the matter.
It is alleged that the violent youths were hired under instruction to beat up ZANU PF district chairpersons perceived as blocking Kambamura’s re-election bid.
Kambamura told NewsDay on Thursday that he was in Sanyati, but had not witnessed the violence.