Mutsekwa surrenders himself to the police

POLICE in Mutare are investigating a case in which National Housing and Social Amenities Minister Giles Mutsekwa is being accused of assaulting an MDC-T councillor accusing him of trying to oust him from contesting during the forthcoming elections.

Mutsekwa surrendered himself to the police on Tuesday where he recorded a warned and cautioned statement in the presence of his lawyer, Mr Chris Ndlovu of Gonese and Ndlovu Legal Practitioners.

The Dangamvura-Chikanga legislator and his three accomplices - Kingston Mutandi (48), Mutare district MDC-T organising secretary; Lovemore Tatenda Nhambarare (30), the party's Ward 9 councillor for Dangamvura-Chikanga; and Raphael Mutandi (age not given) - allegedly assaulted Crispen Dube (47), an accountant with Mutare City Council.

Nhambarare has since been arrested while Raphael Mutandi was still at large.

Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba yesterday confirmed that Mutsekwa was formally charged with assault.

"He indicated that his personal driver, Lawrence Kashipare (42) of Marondera, was the one who was driving the sky blue Toyota Prado with registration numbers ACF 3997." Snr Asst Comm Charamba said Kashipare had since recorded a statement. The matter is being handled by the Mutare CID Law and Order Section under Case No. CR80/06/13.

According to the police, last Thursday at around 7pm, Dube arrived at Zesa Megawatt Building in Mutare in a vehicle driven by Arnold Tsunga and in the company of James Maridadi.

"The trio disembarked from the vehicle and started talking to each other. A few minutes later the four accused arrived in a Toyota Prado and blocked the trio's car," Snr Asst Comm Charamba said.

Kingston Mutandi reportedly approached the trio while Mutsekwa and the other two suspects remained in the vehicle. Mutandi is alleged to have accused the trio of trying to oust Mutsekwa from representing the party in the Dangamvura-Chikanga constituency during the forthcoming elections.

"Fearing for their lives, Tsunga and Maridadi jumped into the vehicle and drove away, leaving Dube on the scene," Snr Asst Comm Charamba said.

She said Raphael Mutandi and Nhambarare disembarked from the vehicle, leaving Mutsekwa inside and they confronted Dube.

Mutsekwa is alleged to have ordered his colleagues to "deal" with Dube.

Kingston Mutandi is alleged to have head-butted Dube before the other two joined in the assault. Dube was later tripped to the ground and kicked by the three. It is reported that a soldier who wanted to board a kombi to Nyanga later rescued Dube from the assault.

Dube reported the matter to the police leading to the arrest of Kingston Mutandi before he implicated the other three.

Snr Asst Comm Charamba said Dube sustained a deep cut on the lower lip, bruises on his body and had five shaking teeth. He also lost US$83 during the assault. On Monday Kingston appeared before Mutare magistrate Mr Noah Gwatidzo who granted him US$100 bail but prosecutor Mr Marlvin Musarurwa invoked Section 121 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act which opposes the granting of bail to accused persons. He was remanded in custody to June 24.