MDC-T leader arrested

Muchemwa, 32, is  accused of seizing a vehicle that was in possession of the opposition party’s rival faction led by Tendai Biti.

The State represented by Simbarashe Manyiwa yesterday made an application for Muchemwa to be jointly charged with MDC-T vice president Thokozani Khupe’s driver, Witness Dube who is out on bail.

Through his lawyer, Kholwani Ngwenya of T J Mabhikwa and Partners, Muchemwa applied for $200 bail on the same conditions as Dube’s.

“Your worship, my client’s co-accused Witness Dube who appears in a separate record had been granted bail pending his trial and in a case which involves more than two co-accused the State cannot discriminate in granting my client bail,” said Ngwenya.

Bulawayo magistrate, Gladmore Mushowe is expected to make a ruling on the bail application today.

Muchemwa, Dube and five other MDC-T members aligned to party leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who are still on the run, are facing robbery and theft charges after they allegedly hijacked a vehicle belonging to Matabeleland North provincial chairman Sengezo Tshabangu, whom they accused of being a member of the MDC-T’s renewal team.

Muchemwa and his colleagues allegedly robbed Tshabangu’s driver, Zaccaria Nkomo of cash and cellphones.

Prosecutors say Muchemwa and his accomplices pounced on Nkomo along Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street in Bulawayo and assaulted him before taking away the vehicle.

Tshabangu has since made an urgent application at the High Court demanding his Isuzu twin cab back. The vehicle is believed to be at Tsvangirai’s residence in Harare.

Their trial continues on July 26.