Mugabe insult case, Kasukuwere sucked in

A Zanu-PF youth from Bulawayo on Monday claimed that he was following advice of Environment, Climate and Water Minister Saviour Kasukuwere when he illegally occupied a house owned by a foreigner in Parkview in 2011.

Richard John Bloxhan (41) of Suburbs was alleged to have insulted or undermined the authority of Mugabe when he insulted Zanu PF youth members Zwelithini Malinga and Luka Chigwedere, who had allegedly invaded a house in Parkview that Bloxhan had been authorised to occupy by its Europe-based owner.

Bloxhan pleaded not guilty to the charge when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Crispen Mberewere yesterday.

The State called Malinga to testify and Mberewere asked him what operation they were conducting on the said property when Bloxhan allegedly insulted Mugabe.

Malinga said they were conducting an "indigenisation operation".

"Who had authorised you?" asked Mberewere.

"Minister Kasukuwere had told us to go around occupying foreign-owned premises so that we try to locate the owners and find out why the buildings were not occupied. He (Kasukuwere) advised us to provide security to the property that is why we occupied it," Malinga said.

He said they were told by the neighbours that the Parkview property had no occupants and that was why they occupied it.

Malinga said they were given keys to the house by the neighbours and when the magistrate asked where the neighbours had got the keys from, he said they never asked.

Bloxhan informed the police and Malinga and Chigwedere were called to the police station where they were charged with unlawful entry and ordered to vacate the premises.

Bloxhan found the two still occupying the house after being ordered to move and that is when they allege he insulted Mugabe.
"Why do you then accuse the accused (Bloxhan) of insulting the president?" asked Mberewere.

"He (Bloxhan) came in a silver car and I was wearing a T-shirt with a picture of President Mugabe," said Malinga. The magistrate quipped: "You were doing something evil wearing a T-shirt with the president's picture. You were using the president's name in your activities?"

"I took it like a uniform since I was on duty driving the party (Zanu PF) vehicle," responded Malinga. "I think he (Bloxhan) was angered because we were wearing T-shirts with the president's photo that is why he insulted him (Mugabe)," said Malinga.

"Don't you think that you might have caused him to insult the president by wearing a T-shirt with the president's photo during your illegal activities? Are you not the one who caused the president to be insulted if that happened?" Mberewere asked.

Malinga denied having contributed to the insulting of Mugabe.