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Nokutenda Chiyangwa Herald Reporter
Dr  Thokozani Khupe’s MDC-T faction yesterday described Mr Nelson Chamisa’s supporters as a bunch of rowdy people who did not only have no respect for the rule of law, but also the Judiciary.

Addressing journalists in Harare yesterday, party spokesperson Ms Linda Masarira said the heckling of Dr Khupe and violent behaviour by Chamisa’s supporters at the superior court showed a great deal of disrespect. The presser followed violent scenes perpetrated by supporters of Mr Chamisa during a Supreme Court hearing in which the latter was appealing against a High Court decision allowing Dr Khupe and her followers to use the opposition party’s logo and emblem.

The case has since been referred back to the High Court to determine the legitimate successor of the late Morgan Tsvangirai.

“The attack on president Thokozani Khupe and our party members yesterday is criminal and unlawful. The acts of violence that happened in front of the most powerful criminal court in the country tells a story of the attitude towards the institutions of law,” said Ms Masarira.

She said Chamisa’s supporters had a penchant for violence and that was an indictment of an impunity mind-set.

Ms Masarira implored law enforcement agencies to identify the culprits and bring them to book.

“The identity of the perpetrators is known or at the very least is ascertained by video evidence, it is clear they are not Zanu-PF supporters, but of Nelson Chamisa,” said Ms Masarira. “We appeal to the law enforcement and the criminal justice system to ensure the safety of all Zimbabweans ahead of the watershed elections.” During the hearing, members believed to be from the Chamisa led faction were seen booing and heckling Dr Khupe and her fellow members while they were leaving the Supreme Court.

The MDC Chamisa group subjected Dr Khupe to derogatory chants of “h*re! h*re!” (prostitute! prostitute!).

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court ruled that factions led by Dr Khupe and Mr Chamisa will continue using the same party name, symbols and logo until the High Court determines the legitimate successor to the late Mr Morgan Tsvangirai.

During the hearing, rowdy MDC-T thugs could be heard singing and chanting slogans outside the Supreme Court, disrupting the court proceedings.

Some got to an extent of hitting the doors to the courtroom, a development that called for the intervention of the police reaction group.

Anti-Riot police were quickly called to maintain peace and to prevent the violent group from further disrupting the court session.

The MDC-T supporters, who were dressed in party regalia blocked traffic along Samora Machel Avenue.

Some supporters bused from high-density suburbs were dropped off right in the middle of the road, disrupting traffic along Samora Machel Avenue around midday.