Some activists linked to the Movement for Democratic Change led by Morgan Tsvangirai on Sunday allegedly beat up party vice president Thokozani Khupe for holding an unsanctioned feedback meeting on the signing of an MDC Alliance by various Zimbabwean opposition political parties.
The youth allegedly beat up Khupe, who stayed away from the MDC Alliance signing ceremony at Zimbabwe Grounds in Harare on Saturday, while she was attending a joint MDC-T National Executive Committee and Provincial Executive Committee meeting in the city attended by delegates from Matabeleland North, Bulawayo and Matabeleland South provinces.
Some party activists told VOA Studio 7 that Khupe was shaken when she was beaten up by the unidentified youth in front of senior MDC-T officials Abednico Bhebhe, Lovemore Moyo and several others.
Video footage posted on various social media platforms shows Khupe lashing out at the assailants, accusing them of being outsiders attending the MDC-T meeting without authorization.
Bhebhe, Moyo and several MDC-T activists are seen talking to the alleged assailants asking them to leave the venue as an angry Khupe urges party activists to kick them out of the party offices.
Studio 7 was unable to ascertain the extent of her injuries, if any, as some video footage shows her throwing arms at the attackers, indicating her high level of disgust over the incident.
One of the MDC activists said, "If at all she was not happy all she needed was to raise her concerns because the whole coalition agenda has not been concluded."
Asked to comment, deputy party spokesperson, Thabitha Khumalo, noted that "we are investigating the issue and the party will issue a statement (concerning the attack).
MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai and Khupe are said to be fighting over the control of the party amid reports that Khupe is still not happy with the appointment of party vice presidents Nelson Chamisa and Elias Mudzuri.
The MDC Alliance comprises the MDC-T, MDC-Ncube, People's Democratic Party led by Tendai Biti and several others.
The parties want to work together ahead of the 2018 general elections.