Harare City Fathers and ZanuPF Youths are to blame for the ongoing skirmishes at the Mupedzanhamo Market, which have resulted in the loss of life and property, according to ZanuPF Original leader Jim Kunaka.
Last Saturday marked the beginning of a violent outburst that resulted in the burning of market stalls at Mupedzanhamo Market in Mbare.
The vendors from the opposing parties ZanuPF and the Citizens Coalition For Change are believed to be responsible for the conflict.
The former Zanu PF youth commander Kunaka, who oversaw the notorious terrorist organization Chipangano in Mbare, spoke to Open Parly ZW about the background to the conflicts but blamed Zanu PF for the ongoing conflict there recently.
“The problem of clashes between the two political parties Zanupf and CCC is being caused by ZanuPF.
” I am saying so because they are fighting to take control of Mbare.
“We all know that Mbare in 2018 was won by the CCC at the constituency level.
“One ward went to CCC, and one ward in which people are fighting today went to Zanu-PF.
“In 2008 there was a mixture of people from different political parties in that market.
“But MDCT supporters trading at the Mupedzanhamo market were chased away from the market.
“Now, when the government shut down the market to allow the council to rehabilitate it.
“The traders who were forcefully removed from the market saw an opportunity to claim back what belongs to them.
“They have approached the City of Harare department responsible for markets, requesting them to give them back the 20 stalls,” Kunaka said.
Prior to the most recent battles, the area had been peaceful, according to Chinaka. He attributes the peacefulness to the opposing parties’ agreed truce.
However, Kunaka accused the ZanuPF provincial Youth Chairperson of masterminding the attack on traders aligned with the opposition.
“The problem has been created by the provincial youth chairman called Mahachi, he is the one who is sending Zanu-PF youths from other wards coming to fight the CCC guys who are operating a flea market.
City Fathers To Blame
Additionally, Kunaka accused the City Fathers of failing to plan according to the demand for vending stalls in the market.
“The whole blame for what is happening in Mbare I give to the City of Harare.
“The relevant department should be creating more vending sites.
“There is no employment in our country and vendors are increasing at an alarming rate on a daily basis.
“It means the local authority is not being creative.
“They should have created more markets within Mbare because the spaces are there,” Kunaka said.
