News / National
MDC-T MP questioned over death
17 Apr 2013 at 05:15hrs | Views
MDC-T Makoni South legislator Pishai Muchauraya has opened a Pandoras box after allegedly revealing that he killed the former MP for the area, John Nyamande, in 2009.
Muchauraya made the sensational revelations while allegedly threatening his rival in the MDC-T primary elections and former Daily News editor Geoffrey Nyarota with death.
He was yesterday questioned by the police over the revelations and the alleged death threats to Nyarota.
The . threats were reported last month at Rhodesville Police Station (Case Number 05/03/2013), but the matter is now being handled by the CID Law and Order Section.
Sources close to the investigation said Muchauraya went to Harare Central Police Station yesterday morning- and a warned and cautioned statement was recorded before he was released.
He is expected to appear in court today.
According to a report he made to the police, Nyarota confirmed he received the death threats.
Nyarota alleged that on 28 February, 2013, at around 6.55am he received a telephone call from a private cell¬phone number, but the caller did not identify himself.
He said the caller said to him: "Uri benzi. Uri zibenzi (You are a fool, you are a big fool)."
"He then hung up the phone," said Nyarota in the affidavit. "He immediately called again. This time he said, "Uri zibenzi. Uri kutuma anhu ako kwendiri, asi uchafa. Ndinokuuraya. Ndinouraya inini. Anondiziya anoziya kuti ndinouraya.
"Then he hung up. The accused was speaking in pure Chindau. I recognised the voice of Mr Muchauraya. He comes from Chipinge and normally speaks in unadulterated Chindau."
Nyarota alleged that he was shocked by the threats and had been receiving warnings from people that he should be careful and be wary of Muchauraya.
He said he later tried to contact Muchauraya on his mobile number up until he switched off his mobile phone.
"I then sent the following text message to him: 'Hon¬ourable Pishai, you have just called and threatened to kill me. On Monday (on February 25) you called aspiring councillor (Mrs Sophia) Chibayambuya of Ward 27, Rukwezu Village, in Makoni South, and threatened to kill someone.
"You told her that you killed John Nyamande, the late MP for Makoni South constituency and others. Clr Chibayambuya reported the matter at Nyazura Police Station on Wednesday (February 27).
"I am not scared of you. I am prepared to die for the people of Makoni."
Nyarota further alleged that on 25 February Muchauraya phoned Clr Chibayambuya.
"This is what Honourable Muchauraya said to her: 'Mava kuda kutanga Hondo. Munoztva here kuti ndisu takauraya John Nyamande? Ndinoda kukuyambirai kuti vamwe vanhu vachatsvira mudzimba.
"Ndinoda kuti mutsvage kuti ndiani akaparadzira mapepa akanyorwa naNyarota kuWard 27. Ini ndinobva kuChipinge. Kune mishonga, ndichaisevenzesa mishongayacho'. (You want to start a war. Do you know that I killed John Nyamande. I want to warn you that we are going to burn houses belonging to some people. I want you to find out who distributed in Ward 27 the papers written by Nyarota. I hail from Chipinge. There is juju there. I am going to use that juju)."
Nyarota said: "Soon after I sent the message to Hon Muchauraya, I forwarded copies to Hon Nelson Chamisa, the MDC-T organising secretary and Assistant Inspector Gova of Nyazura for their information".
Nyamande died in a car accident in November 2009 near Ruwa when his Isuzu KB vehicle rammed a broken down truck that was partially parked off the Harare-Marondera Highway.
He suffered multiple broken bones as well as severe head and chest injuries.
Mr Muchauraya yesterday confirmed that he had given a warned and cautioned statement to the police.
He said the allegations being levelled against him were false and meant to discredit him.
"The allegations are false and he (Nyarota) is trying to seek attention using his trade, the media," he said.
Mr Muchauraya said Nyarota had not been a member of the party for the last few years and only joined in January this year with the intention of causing con¬fusion.
"If he was truly a member of the party, he could have used the normal channels or procedures of lodging his complaint at Harvest House which is our headquarters other than using the police and the media," he said.
"Those who belong to the party are guided by the party's constitution."
Intra-party violence has increased within the MDC-T ahead of primary elections scheduled to begin on Saturday.
A number of the party's officials and supporters have been arrested in recent months, while others are on the run following incidents of intra-party political violence.
Muchauraya made the sensational revelations while allegedly threatening his rival in the MDC-T primary elections and former Daily News editor Geoffrey Nyarota with death.
He was yesterday questioned by the police over the revelations and the alleged death threats to Nyarota.
The . threats were reported last month at Rhodesville Police Station (Case Number 05/03/2013), but the matter is now being handled by the CID Law and Order Section.
Sources close to the investigation said Muchauraya went to Harare Central Police Station yesterday morning- and a warned and cautioned statement was recorded before he was released.
He is expected to appear in court today.
According to a report he made to the police, Nyarota confirmed he received the death threats.
Nyarota alleged that on 28 February, 2013, at around 6.55am he received a telephone call from a private cell¬phone number, but the caller did not identify himself.
He said the caller said to him: "Uri benzi. Uri zibenzi (You are a fool, you are a big fool)."
"He then hung up the phone," said Nyarota in the affidavit. "He immediately called again. This time he said, "Uri zibenzi. Uri kutuma anhu ako kwendiri, asi uchafa. Ndinokuuraya. Ndinouraya inini. Anondiziya anoziya kuti ndinouraya.
"Then he hung up. The accused was speaking in pure Chindau. I recognised the voice of Mr Muchauraya. He comes from Chipinge and normally speaks in unadulterated Chindau."
Nyarota alleged that he was shocked by the threats and had been receiving warnings from people that he should be careful and be wary of Muchauraya.
He said he later tried to contact Muchauraya on his mobile number up until he switched off his mobile phone.
"I then sent the following text message to him: 'Hon¬ourable Pishai, you have just called and threatened to kill me. On Monday (on February 25) you called aspiring councillor (Mrs Sophia) Chibayambuya of Ward 27, Rukwezu Village, in Makoni South, and threatened to kill someone.
"You told her that you killed John Nyamande, the late MP for Makoni South constituency and others. Clr Chibayambuya reported the matter at Nyazura Police Station on Wednesday (February 27).
Nyarota further alleged that on 25 February Muchauraya phoned Clr Chibayambuya.
"This is what Honourable Muchauraya said to her: 'Mava kuda kutanga Hondo. Munoztva here kuti ndisu takauraya John Nyamande? Ndinoda kukuyambirai kuti vamwe vanhu vachatsvira mudzimba.
"Ndinoda kuti mutsvage kuti ndiani akaparadzira mapepa akanyorwa naNyarota kuWard 27. Ini ndinobva kuChipinge. Kune mishonga, ndichaisevenzesa mishongayacho'. (You want to start a war. Do you know that I killed John Nyamande. I want to warn you that we are going to burn houses belonging to some people. I want you to find out who distributed in Ward 27 the papers written by Nyarota. I hail from Chipinge. There is juju there. I am going to use that juju)."
Nyarota said: "Soon after I sent the message to Hon Muchauraya, I forwarded copies to Hon Nelson Chamisa, the MDC-T organising secretary and Assistant Inspector Gova of Nyazura for their information".
Nyamande died in a car accident in November 2009 near Ruwa when his Isuzu KB vehicle rammed a broken down truck that was partially parked off the Harare-Marondera Highway.
He suffered multiple broken bones as well as severe head and chest injuries.
Mr Muchauraya yesterday confirmed that he had given a warned and cautioned statement to the police.
He said the allegations being levelled against him were false and meant to discredit him.
"The allegations are false and he (Nyarota) is trying to seek attention using his trade, the media," he said.
Mr Muchauraya said Nyarota had not been a member of the party for the last few years and only joined in January this year with the intention of causing con¬fusion.
"If he was truly a member of the party, he could have used the normal channels or procedures of lodging his complaint at Harvest House which is our headquarters other than using the police and the media," he said.
"Those who belong to the party are guided by the party's constitution."
Intra-party violence has increased within the MDC-T ahead of primary elections scheduled to begin on Saturday.
A number of the party's officials and supporters have been arrested in recent months, while others are on the run following incidents of intra-party political violence.
Source - TC
