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Midlands Correspondent
Police in Gweru have arrested an MDC-T youth, Wonderful Marange (26) who with another unnamed party youth assaulted a journalist who was covering an MDC-T victory celebration party at Mkoba Stadium on Sunday.The two suspects reportedly dragged the journalist, Harry Taruva, outside the stadium while kicking him.

National Police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi yesterday confirmed the arrest of Marange. He, however, said he could not give finer details on the circumstances surrounding the arrest as he was out of office.

“I can confirm the arrest of an MDC-T youth, Wonderful Marange, after he allegedly assaulted a journalist who was covering the party meeting at Mkoba Stadium. Police are also keen to interview another suspect who is still on the run,” he said.

Witnesses said Taruva, a reporter with a Gweru based community newspaper, The Midlands Monitor, was attacked by a group of MDC-T youths after he tried to interview a party supporter who had tried to disrupt proceedings at the meeting.

The MDC-T youths were in the process of dragging the supporter outside the stadium when Taruva tried to engage him in a bid to establish what was happening.

“All hell broke loose when an MDC-T supporter jumped to the podium and grabbed the microphone from an official who was testing the PA system ahead of the function. The party supporter appeared drunk and he started shouting at the local National Assembly member, Mr Amos Chibaya, who had organised the function,” said a witness.

The witnesses said some MDC-T youths then went and dragged the supporter away from the podium before they took him outside the stadium.

“It was during the scuffle with the party supporter when Taruva and another journalist went to investigate. As the supporter was being shoved outside the stadium, Taruva tried to interview him but was attacked by some MDC-T youths who accused him of trying to report negatively about the party,” said the witness.

The witness said Taruva later reported the assault to the police at Mkoba Village One Police Station. MDC-T provincial spokesperson, Mr James Tsuro confirmed the arrest of Marange when he was contacted for comment yesterday.

He, however, refuted claims that Taruva had been assaulted. Mr Tsuro said he witnessed the incident and alleged that Taruva mis-represented facts to the police that he was assaulted.

“Yes, there was a mini scuffle when our youths took a supporter outside the stadium after he became a nuisance. When our supporter was being taken outside, Taruva acted unprofessionally and tried to interview him while he was still being taken outside the stadium. I witnessed the incident and Taruva was never assaulted,” he said.