News / National
Aspiring Bulawayo MP on the run
22 Jun 2018 at 06:54hrs | Views
POPULAR Bulawayo socialite and dealer Kunashe Muchemwa is on the police's wanted list for his alleged involvement in political violence.
Muchemwa along with Shelton Tembo, Tinevimbo Maphosa (37) and Michael Mabasa (35) were singled out as being masterminds of political violence that engulfed the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) primary elections. Maphosa and Mabasa have since appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Lungile Ncube charged with assault.
According to court documents youth assembly secretary for elections, Kunashe Muchemwa who is also the party's aspiring candidate for Bulawayo South, and Shelton Tembo were also supposed to be jointly charged with Maphosa and Mabasa for assaulting Thamsanqa Ncube but were reportedly "on the run".
Muchemwa is, however, not new to playing hide and seek with the police.
Sometime in June 2014, he went on the run after allegedly seizing a vehicle that was in possession of the then opposition party's rival faction led by Tendai Biti. He was then arrested after some days and dragged to court facing robbery and theft charges.
For the offence of assaulting a fellow party member, following a brawl over control of a vehicle in question Muchemwa, together with MDC-T deputy president Thokozani Khupe's driver, Witness Dube, were later slapped with a $400 fine by Bulawayo regional magistrate, Mark Dzira.
They were, however, acquitted of the robbery charge.
In the latest case where Muchemwa is "on the run" accusations are that on 10 June 2018, Mabasa and Maphosa, who is the party secretary for healing, Bulawayo province and was an aspiring candidate for Ward 21 were part of the electorate that were casting their votes during the party's primary elections that were being held at a house in Sizinda suburb.
Ncube, who was also an aspiring candidate for Ward 21 was taking part in the elections where he ended up being allegedly assaulted by Maphosa and Mabasa.
It is yet to be proved that as the elections were in progress, Ncube reportedly unearthed some irregularities that were going on and alerted election officials who promised to attend to the queries after the voting process.
After the voting process, it is alleged Ncube approached the election officials intending to file his complaint and that did not go down well with Maphosa who reportedly signalled to his accomplices to come and attack Ncube.
It is reported that Maphosa and Mabasa, for no apparent reason, started assaulting Ncube with fists several times all over the body.
Muchemwa and Tembo, who are reportedly still at large, are alleged to have joined the attack and brutally kicked the helpless Ncube on the back several times.
Ncube, who was reportedly writhing in agony ,was saved from further assault by security details who were present at the election venue.
The matter was then reported to ZRP Tshababala where investigations led to the arrest of Maphosa and Mabasa while Muchemwa and Tembo are alleged to have made good their escape soon after committing the offence.
The two (Maphosa and Mabasa), who are denying the charge, were remanded out of custody to 22 June for trial.
Muchemwa along with Shelton Tembo, Tinevimbo Maphosa (37) and Michael Mabasa (35) were singled out as being masterminds of political violence that engulfed the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) primary elections. Maphosa and Mabasa have since appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Lungile Ncube charged with assault.
According to court documents youth assembly secretary for elections, Kunashe Muchemwa who is also the party's aspiring candidate for Bulawayo South, and Shelton Tembo were also supposed to be jointly charged with Maphosa and Mabasa for assaulting Thamsanqa Ncube but were reportedly "on the run".
Muchemwa is, however, not new to playing hide and seek with the police.
Sometime in June 2014, he went on the run after allegedly seizing a vehicle that was in possession of the then opposition party's rival faction led by Tendai Biti. He was then arrested after some days and dragged to court facing robbery and theft charges.
For the offence of assaulting a fellow party member, following a brawl over control of a vehicle in question Muchemwa, together with MDC-T deputy president Thokozani Khupe's driver, Witness Dube, were later slapped with a $400 fine by Bulawayo regional magistrate, Mark Dzira.
They were, however, acquitted of the robbery charge.
In the latest case where Muchemwa is "on the run" accusations are that on 10 June 2018, Mabasa and Maphosa, who is the party secretary for healing, Bulawayo province and was an aspiring candidate for Ward 21 were part of the electorate that were casting their votes during the party's primary elections that were being held at a house in Sizinda suburb.
It is yet to be proved that as the elections were in progress, Ncube reportedly unearthed some irregularities that were going on and alerted election officials who promised to attend to the queries after the voting process.
After the voting process, it is alleged Ncube approached the election officials intending to file his complaint and that did not go down well with Maphosa who reportedly signalled to his accomplices to come and attack Ncube.
It is reported that Maphosa and Mabasa, for no apparent reason, started assaulting Ncube with fists several times all over the body.
Muchemwa and Tembo, who are reportedly still at large, are alleged to have joined the attack and brutally kicked the helpless Ncube on the back several times.
Ncube, who was reportedly writhing in agony ,was saved from further assault by security details who were present at the election venue.
The matter was then reported to ZRP Tshababala where investigations led to the arrest of Maphosa and Mabasa while Muchemwa and Tembo are alleged to have made good their escape soon after committing the offence.
The two (Maphosa and Mabasa), who are denying the charge, were remanded out of custody to 22 June for trial.
Source - bmetro
