HARARE , Zimbabwe ( CNN ) -- Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai asked their respective parties to shun violence on Friday , a rare expression of unity between the political rivals . It came after disturbances Sunday between Mugabe 's Zanu PF party and Tsvangirai 's Movement for Democratic Change in Chitungwiza near the capital of Harare . About 30 MDC supporters were injured after suspected Zanu PF militia had disrupted a rally where Tsvangirai was scheduled to speak . The two men have different takes on who might be to blame for the violence . Tsvangirai accused the police chief , Augustine Chihuri , an ally of Mugabe , of asking police to protect only Zanu PF supporters . Mugabe defended police , saying MDC had barred officers from attending its events . But both want citizens to embrace peace . `` I am happy the president is with us , '' Tsvangirai said . `` I have brought before him the issues of violence . I have brought before him the blood unnecessarily shed in our communities simply because of one is Zanu PF and the other is MDC , '' he said . `` I told him about the Chitungwiza violence . ... The police watched and to date there is no single arrest . '' Speaking to the leadership of Zanu PF and MDC , Mugabe said , `` Let us walk the talk of peace . This is our sincere plea from our hearts . '' He added , `` People must hold their meetings freely . Do n't stand in the way of those who are holding a meeting . '' But the 87-year-old president , who has ruled Zimbabwe since its independence in 1980 , said the level of violence in his country was worrying . He said he has been discussing the issue with Tsvangirai at their weekly meetings . The men , now partners in a fragile coalition government , said they want Zimbabwe 's next elections to be peaceful . In 2008 , political violence ahead of the presidential run-off resulted in Tsvangirai pulling out , citing violent attacks and intimidation by the militia of Mugabe 's faction . Mugabe won the election but regional leaders did not recognize the polls and called for a coalition government . Since then , violence has decreased . But talk of upcoming elections has resulted in renewed clashes .
Mugabe is the longtime leader of Zimbabwe . He was elected in a landslide victory last year after serving as president for nearly four decades. Disturbances on Sunday injured MDC supporters .