'Jonathan Moyo not targeted in Baba Jukwa investigations'

Police have dismissed reports that top government officials are under investigation in connection with the recent arrest of The Sunday Mail Editor Edmund Kudzayi over publications of posts on the Baba Jukwa Facebook page. This is contrary to reports in some sections of the media that the investigations are targeted at Prof Jonathan Moyo.

Chief Police spokesperson, senior assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba yesterday said instead cabinet ministers such as Saviour Kasukuwere (Environment, Water and Climate) were the victims of Baba Jukwa.

"The police wishes to inform the public that there are no ministers targeted in the investigations. In fact, ministers were targeted by Baba Jukwa and the most targeted Minister was in fact Kasukuwere, his wife and family," Charamba said.

She said the mentioning of top government officials and the members of the ruling party Zanu-PF as being targeted in the investigations was intended to throw confusion into Kudzayi's criminal matter.

"Such publications which insinuate that certain ministers and parliamentarians are targeted, are intended to throw confusion into the whole matter and solicit ministers and Zanu-PF sympathy, in the process diluting the gravity of Kudzayi's case," Charamba said.

Meanwhile, Mxolisi Ncube, one of the journalists initially linked to Baba Jukwa by the Sunday Mail and Herald, has asked whether people still believed he was behind the shadowy character.

"So, do you still believe that I am the real Baba Jukwa?" quipped Ncube on his Facebook page.

"Having been demonised and called names, with my pictures splashed everywhere for nothing I ever did, I cannot celebrate what my Zimpapers counterparts are going through right now.

"Had I been in Zimbabwe when those allegations were made, I would have faced a similar or even worse situation. An injury to one is an injury to all. Journalists of Zimbabwe Arise!"