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Herald Reporter
MDC-T rival youths exchanged blows as violence broke out in full glare of party leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai during his familiarisation tour of Chitungwiza Municipality yesterday.Youths, who appeared to belong to rival camps of the MDC-T, exchanged blows at Chigovanyika Business Centre as Mr Tsvangirai was purportedly touring market stalls to assess service delivery by the opposition-led council.

The violence was spurred by one youth who allegedly made a slur at Mr Tsvangirai, something that angered rivals and triggered the exchange of blows.

It was not immediately clear what the youth said which offended other party youths.

One of the youths could be heard shouting that the youth who made a slur had a knife hidden in his clothes and urged Mr Tsvangirai’s security personnel to apprehend him.

Several vendors had their wares strewn all over in the ensuing violence as other onlookers ran for dear life.

Party leaders, in apparent fear of embarrassment, continued with their tour before getting back in their respective cars and sped off to Chikwanha Shopping Centre where Mr Tsvangirai got a briefing from Chitungwiza mayor Mr Phillip Mutoti.

Mr Mutoti told Mr Tsvangirai that the municipality will, starting from next week, begin to retrench about 325 workers.

He said those who were approaching pensionable age had already been retired.

Mr Mutoti said the municipality was struggling to pay a bloated workforce at a time revenue collection was low due to non-payment of rates by residents.

“We are supposed to collect about $4 million per month, but we are collecting $900 000 against a salary bill of $1,5 million,” he said.

“We need to have a leaner staff complement.”

Mr Tsvangirai described Chitungwiza  as “a hopeless town just like Hopley and Epworth”.

“My message is that, yes, we are overwhelmed but we have a responsibility to live up to the expectations of the people,” said Mr Tsvangirai, who was accompanied by a handful of MPs from his party.

Most Chitungwiza residents are resisting payment of rates, arguing that they are not receiving any services from the council.