'Nyarota trying to seek attention,' says MDC-T MP

MDC-T'S Makoni South legislator, Pishai Muchauraya, has denied threatening to kill former Daily News editor, Geoffrey Nyarota, who is challenging him in the party's primary elections.

Police have since launched investigations after Nyarota lodged a complaint in February but Muchauraya dismissed the allegations as an attention-grabbing stunt by his rival.

"The allegations are false and he (Nyarota) is trying to seek attention using his trade, the media," he said.

Muchauraya however, said Nyarota only joined the party in January this year and should not be allowed to contest the primaries.

"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," said the MP.

"Those who belong to the party are guided by the party's constitution."

In his affidavit, Nyarota said he received a call from an anonymous number at 6.55AM on February 28. The caller, who did not identify himself, allegedly said in Shona: "Uri benzi. Uri zibenzi [You are a fool; you are a big fool]."

Nyarota explained: "He then hung up the phone. He immediately called again. This time he said: 'Uri zibenzi. Uri kutuma anhu ako kwendiri, Asi uchafa. Ndinokuuraya. Ndinouraya inini. Anondiziya anoziya kuti ndinouraya [You are a big fool. You are sending your people to me. But you are going to die. I am going to kill you. I am a killer. Those who know me are aware that I am a killer]."

Nyarota said the individual at the end of the phone was speaking in pure Chndau and he "recognised the voice of Mr Muchauraya. He comes from Chipinge and normally speaks in unadulterated Chindau."