via Mangoma, ex-bodyguard in war of words – DailyNews Live Farayi Machamire • 12 December 2015
HARARE – Ex-Energy minister Elton Mangoma’s former body guard has sensationally claimed that the Renewal Democrats Zimbabwe (RDZ) president is a thief and a womaniser, allegations that the politician has refuted.
The former bodyguard Nelson Mukwena said he had dumped Mangoma after he failed to pay him his salary, a sign showing that his party was teetering on the brink of collapse.
“I have been receiving a $100 monthly salary for the last six months instead of the $400 agreed salary,” Mukwena said.
He poured out his heart to the Daily News yesterday, claiming “Zanu is corrupt but he (Mangoma) is worse. He is running the party like a tuckshop.”
“We stood by him when he was in the mainstream MDC because we believed in his vision.”
He said Mangoma had totally lost the plot. However, Mangoma refuted Mukwena’s allegations, before asking him to produce a contract, to support his claims.
“I am a professional,” Mangoma said. “Even if you were to ask that guy to write what he is saying he will not be able. He can’t even write. That’s the type of person he is.”
But Mukwena could have none of Mangoma’s claims, adding that he had been acting loyal to the politician but had seen the light.
“Even when he (Mangoma) was beaten up for taking Believe’s wife we stood by him and even helped him form this party but he has abandoned all that and just thinks of fattening his own pockets.”
Earlier this year, Mangoma was accused of having an affair with Believe Tevera’s wife, MDC Renewal party’s provincial youth leader.
The wife, Yemurai Maravanyika, aged 20, became the centre of a storm after Mangoma was openly attacked by party youths for the alleged adulterous affair.
“It’s a true story that he took a party member’s wife. We tried to stand by him then but it’s all true,” Mukwena said.
Mangoma insisted he was innocent adding Mukwena’s tirades were based on emotions more than facts, because he was booted out of the party.
“He was suspended so he is bitter. He is just someone who is frustrated and he has been fired for beating up a party member. We don’t tolerate violence,” Mangoma said.
Mukwena further alleged that Mangoma embezzled property and money from the mainstream MDC but did not raise alarm because he was loyal to him, something which Mangoma scoffed at.
“If I stole from (Morgan) Tsvangirai-led MDC why didn’t they prosecute me?” the former MDC treasurer asked rhetorically.
But Mukwena was not done alleging that all the party money was going into the pocket of the former Energy minister.
“It has become his family project,” Mukwena said.
“Imagine he is paying people straight from his pocket, but there is a treasurer, the secretary-general is there. What kind of a party is that?
“No, he needs an advisor. He should stop shouting at opposition parties and start fixing his own house.”
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