News / National
MDC-T rebel arrested over party properties
14 May 2014 at 05:58hrs | Views
Kwekwe town
KWEKWE - MDC-Team officials Mbizo MP Settlement Chikwinya, Searchmore Muringani and Luckmore Senge were yesterday held for four hours at the police's law and order section on allegations of stealing from the MDC-T offices.
The three belong to the opposition party's renewal team fronted by MDC-T secretary-general Tendai Biti and deputy treasurer-general Elton Mangoma who want a leadership change in the party.
They were accompanied to the Kwekwe Police Station by their lawyer Caroline Mugabe who confirmed that her clients were under investigations after acting MDC-T Midlands North chairperson Sedwell Bhebhe reported them to the police.
"My clients were held at the law and order section from 11am to 3pm over allegations that they stole three computers, a public address system, a generator, 29 chairs and a photocopier from the provincial office, but they have since been released without charge," said Mugabe.
Mugabe said Chikwinya admitted to taking some of the property from the party office following a directive from Magoma.
"They confirm that they removed some of the property which include two computers, photocopier, 29 chairs and three wooden desks on May 2 on orders from Magoma who is the chief custodian of all party assets," she said.
She also submitted that the assets do not belong to the MDC-T but belong to a private company Laphonic Investments in which Magoma is a director.
On April 30, Mangoma wrote a letter to Chikwinya advising him to take control of all party assets for safe keeping in the face of threats against those properties.
"Following threats to party properties in the MDC-T's various provinces particularly in Manicaland, the Midlands North and Mashonaland West provinces, the party has resolved to take security measures to safeguard its properties," wrote Mangoma.
Bhebhe confirmed that he had filed a police report against Chikwinya accusing him of taking the property without consulting the legitimate provincial leadership which was responsible for electing Biti, Magoma and others into the positions they are now using to deny access to party property.
"Unless there is another party, all provincial property and offices are held in trust by the provincial leadership and therefore anyone who wants to move it should first tell that leadership," said Bhebhe.
The three belong to the opposition party's renewal team fronted by MDC-T secretary-general Tendai Biti and deputy treasurer-general Elton Mangoma who want a leadership change in the party.
They were accompanied to the Kwekwe Police Station by their lawyer Caroline Mugabe who confirmed that her clients were under investigations after acting MDC-T Midlands North chairperson Sedwell Bhebhe reported them to the police.
"My clients were held at the law and order section from 11am to 3pm over allegations that they stole three computers, a public address system, a generator, 29 chairs and a photocopier from the provincial office, but they have since been released without charge," said Mugabe.
Mugabe said Chikwinya admitted to taking some of the property from the party office following a directive from Magoma.
"They confirm that they removed some of the property which include two computers, photocopier, 29 chairs and three wooden desks on May 2 on orders from Magoma who is the chief custodian of all party assets," she said.
She also submitted that the assets do not belong to the MDC-T but belong to a private company Laphonic Investments in which Magoma is a director.
On April 30, Mangoma wrote a letter to Chikwinya advising him to take control of all party assets for safe keeping in the face of threats against those properties.
"Following threats to party properties in the MDC-T's various provinces particularly in Manicaland, the Midlands North and Mashonaland West provinces, the party has resolved to take security measures to safeguard its properties," wrote Mangoma.
Bhebhe confirmed that he had filed a police report against Chikwinya accusing him of taking the property without consulting the legitimate provincial leadership which was responsible for electing Biti, Magoma and others into the positions they are now using to deny access to party property.
"Unless there is another party, all provincial property and offices are held in trust by the provincial leadership and therefore anyone who wants to move it should first tell that leadership," said Bhebhe.
Source - Southern Eye
