Nelson Chamisa escaped an assassination attempt, as he was taken to safety after his convoy was allegedly shot at in Mutare on Tuesday afternoon, the party said.
His MDC Alliance party has blamed “Zanu PF thugs” for the attack, which comes after a similar incident happened in Masvingo last week.
“There has been another attempted assassination on president Chamisa. A bullet flew through one window of the vehicle carrying him and went out through the other. This attempted assassination and use of gunshots on president Chamisa’s vehicle and another that is part of his convoy are cause for grave concern,” the MDC Alliance said in a statement.
The party said Chamisa was on his way to Mutare for meetings with community leaders following a similar tour of Masvingo last week. He had earlier stopped in Birchenough
As his convoy made its way into Mutare, they found the road blocked by two two vehicles. After negotiating their way around that by going off-road, the MDC Alliance said Chamisa was pursued by several vehicles without registration plates.
“Armed thugs threw large boulders at his vehicle which has been badly damaged. The president’s vehicle sped off and was trailed by more than 12 unmarked cars,” the MDC Alliance said.
Party spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said Chamisa was “safe” following the attack.
How Zanu PF tried to assassinate Nelson Chamisa
Chamisa is on a tour of Manicaland province, drumming up support for his party.
He was coming from Birchenough Bridge and Chipinge headed for Mutare when he was intercepted by the Zanu PF youths who were travelling in over a dozen unmarked twin-cab vehicles.
Party spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said Chamisa’s convoy was intercepted by Zanu PF activists led by Manicaland youth leader Danmore Mambondiyani.
“The youths were armed with axes, guns and machetes,” she said.
“There were 12 to 15 vehicles that were trailing the president’s motorcade. The motorcade was delayed by numerous roadblocks to allow the youths to close in.
“Just towards Mutare, there were gunshots which hit one window. Other vehicles were stoned.”
Mahere said party organising secretary Amos Chibaya made a police report.
But national police spokesperson Paul Nyathi said: “I have checked with Manicaland, we did not receive such a report.”
Mahere’s deputy, Gift “Ostallos” Siziba, who was part of Chamisa’s entourage, said he suspected security details were part of the group that intercepted the motorcade.
“We have strong suspicions that some of them were soldiers in civilian clothes,” he said, adding that the road was barricaded with stones.
“One Mambondiani was co-ordinating the group that had been trailing president Nelson Chamisa’s vehicle. They were armed and threatening violence against the president.”
Last week, Chamisa was attacked by over 200 Zanu PF activists in Charumbira area in Masvingo West.
He was also reportedly tear-gassed by the police at a private residence in Masvingo town.