via Police refusing to arrest Mangoma attacker: Mwonzora – Nehanda Radio Mar 15, 2014 By Lance Guma
Last month’s attack on MDC-T Deputy Treasurer General Elton Mangoma has taken a new twist with party spokesman Douglas Mwonzora claiming that despite being supplied with a video clip showing the attacker’s face, the police are reluctant to arrest the perpetrator.
“The video footage shows an individual fighting with President Tsvangirai’s security aides in an attempt to access Mangoma. After being successfully repelled by the President’s aides the individual retreats only to go behind the security and managing to land about three punches on Mangoma’s face,” Mwonzora said.
“Nobody in the MDC has managed to identify this individual. He does not belong to any of the MDC structures nor is he a member of the MDC. In a bid to get this individual arrested the MDC supplied the video clip to the Police Law and Order Section.
“To the MDC’s surprise, the Police do not appear to be interested in tracking this individual at all. This is despite the fact that this person’s face is clear from the video footage. No wonder some people have suggested that this individual may be a person who enjoys the protection of some state agents.
“The police however insisted on arresting MDC activists who are well known for their support for President Tsvangirai. Fortunately the courts of law have found that the evidence against these activists is extremely weak and proceeded to grant them bail,” Mwonzora said.
Francis Mafimbidzofa, 38, Enock Mukudu, 31, Stefani Tafadzwa Jahwi, 36, Samson Tumai Nerwande, 41, Paul Gorekore and James Chidhakwa were arrested and charged with the assault. All of them with the exception of Chidhakwa have been released on bail with the magistrate saying the state case was weak.
Mangoma torched a storm after writing a letter to Tsvangirai suggesting he step down and call for an extra-ordinary congress as part of leadership renewal in the party. This did not go down well with Tsvangirai’s supporters who argued that Tsvangirai was elected by a congress and that his term ends in 2016.
Matters came to head last month when Tsvangirai convened a meeting with around 210 provincial leaders at the party’s Harvest House headquarters in Harare. Outside the venue anti-Mangoma protesters gathered outside. It was after the meeting that Mangoma was assaulted and had his shirt torn.
COMMENTS
Well this does prove what some have suspected. That they won’t arrest him is because they sent him. CIO have a hand in most things that happen. We have said that MDC was infiltrated. The opposition has to take stock and weed out these people. They must not use violence but expose them. There are a lot of people in the opposition parties that are on Zanu’s payroll. Even prior to the MDC being formed there were people we knew that were planted by CIO in the trade unions. This was common knowledge during that time.
The person won’t be arrested because the whole truth will come out about who sent him.
Why not publish his face so that we the public can identify him or possible deal with him. This sounds like cheap propaganda from a deluded Mwonzora to the naïve MDC supporters.
Stupid
The police are not police any more, they are criminals in uniform and are protectors of zanupf and one day they will find that they are in serious trouble as they are known and their names are recorded.
Time to unite and do smething ,not to Waste time running after Zanu pf projects.lets wake up Zimbabweans and stop criticising each other,lets help those who are trying to dethrone the Dictator
That guy is a Zanu thug or CIO
Danisa why do you call MDC supporters naïve? Comment the story not to venture your frustrations to the supports who know what they want.MDC has always stood firm saying the beating was an act from the enemy.As MDC, we trust Douglas, sober and always calculative.Not other wanabies showing emotions and frustrations to real cadres when the real enemy is plunging the whole country to the doldrums