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Cde Hlongwane

Midlands Bureau
BUSINESS temporarily came to a halt at the Kwekwe Long Distance Bus Terminus last Friday when two rival groups of youths — “Al-Shabaab” and an unnamed one — clashed over the control of the terminus, leaving three people hospitalised. Al-Shabaab, a notorious group which has over the years been alleged to be sponsored by former Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who hails from Kwekwe, has all along, been reportedly charging commuter omnibuses and buses a $2 parking fee each on a daily basis.

Another rival group, led by one Tichaona Chacha, tried to disrupt the Al-Shabaab “gatetakings’’ business leading to violent clashes that left three, including Chacha, hospitalised. Acting police spokesperson for Midlands province Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende was not responding to calls yesterday. National police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said she was on leave when contacted for comment yesterday. Zanu-PF Midlands provincial commissar Cde Makhosini Hlongwane confirmed the party’s provincial leadership received the Kwekwe violent clashes report saying police had since arrested some of the youths.

Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba

“We got the report as the provincial leadership on the violent clashes by the Al-Shabaab group when they turned the terminus into a war zone on Friday. We made a follow-up with the police and we are happy to announce that some of the suspects have been arrested and were assisting police with investigations, as we speak,” said Cde Hlongwane, who addressed a press conference. Cde Hlongwane said police should leave no stone unturned to bring back peace in Kwekwe city.

Former Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa

“We all know that Midlands, and Kwekwe in particular, has been the nucleus of factionalism. There is a group of youths in Kwekwe that has been unleashing a reign of terror and we have said they should be disarmed, they should toe the party line and not remain stuck in support of an individual who has been fired from the party,” he said. In an interview from his hospital bed, Chacha – who sustained multiple injuries – said his group of youths wanted to stop the Al-Shabaab group from fleecing bus and commuter omnibus operators following the demise of their leader when they were attacked.

“We are Zanu-PF youths and we do not support any individual, but the President and the party. We wanted this Al-Shabaab group to stop continuing charging commuters protection fees. They are violent and they are still adamant even after their ‘godfather’ has been fired from the party. We can’t allow this to continue in Kwekwe,” he said.