Tsvangirai suspends Hwende and Khumalo over weekend assaults

Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai has suspended deputy treasurer Charlton Hwende and deputy information secretary Thabitha Khumalo over the weekend disturbances in Bulawayo during which party vice-president Thokozani  Khupe and other senior officers were injured.

His spokesman Luke Tamborinyola said three members of the youth assembly who were not named were also suspended.

Khupe and other senior MDC-T officials from Bulawayo were allegedly assaulted for not attending the launch of the MDC Alliance on Saturday.

Hwende supported the bashing of the senior party officials saying their action was irresponsible.

“The youths are angry and impatient,” he tweeted. “Anyone who will stand in the way of change will have no one to blame. We are tired. We want change.”

It is not clear what role Khumalo played but Tsvangirai said a full investigation is being carried out.

“President Tsvangirai has already dispatched a probe team to Bulawayo and a full comprehensive investigation will determine any further action to be taken,” Tamborinyoka said in the statement.

The incident, which some in the MDC-T believe could have been the work of the intelligence, has greatly tarnished the image of the party and Tsvangirai in particular and the State-controlled media is capitalizing on the blunder to portray the opposition leader as a violent person.

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