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Mujuru clique plotted Mnangagwa arrest in December
22 May 2015 at 06:48hrs | Views
Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa was on the verge of being arrested last December ahead of Zanu PF's congress for undisclosed corruption charges.
According to NewsDay, the move was spearheaded by a clique in the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC).
Mnangagwa was locked in a fierce battle with former Vice-President Joice Mujuru to succeed President Robert Mugabe, which culminated in an unprecedented purge that cost Zimbabwe's first female Vice-President her position.
The paper said Mnangagwa was alerting of the plot on February 25.
ZACC acting boss Senior Assistant Commissioner Silence Pondo is said to have been working with former Vice president Joyce Mujuru to bring down the Vice-President.
According to the letter to Mnangagwa, the ZACC intelligence and investigating officers allege Pondo and Home Affairs secretary Melusi Matshiya were the brains behind the plot.
"(We) . . . have decided to bring it to your attention the following malpractices and corrupt activities that are being done by the management at the above institution," the officers wrote.
"This conduct, if not dealt with urgently, will have a negative bearing on the image of the Zanu PF and government in the fight against corruption.
"Soon after his appointment as ZACC acting boss, Pondo recalled all high-profile cases, which involved senior Zanu PF and government officials from the investigations and surrendered them to Melusi Matshiya at the Ministry (of Home Affairs), who then handed them to the Gamatox faction leaders before their demise at the December congress."
"This information was being planned to be used to de-campaign the Zanu PF leadership as a rogue and corrupt party and government," the officers wrote.
The paper said Pondo was "handsomely rewarded to head the anti-graft team" so that he could arrest senior Zanu PF members, including Mnangagwa.
"Pondo is abusing his office by being used by the Gamatox faction (Mujuru camp) to fight political and personal wars at the expense of doing his job," the letter added.
"He was the link between the Mujuru business empire and their partners who smuggle gold outside the country."
According to NewsDay, the move was spearheaded by a clique in the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC).
Mnangagwa was locked in a fierce battle with former Vice-President Joice Mujuru to succeed President Robert Mugabe, which culminated in an unprecedented purge that cost Zimbabwe's first female Vice-President her position.
The paper said Mnangagwa was alerting of the plot on February 25.
ZACC acting boss Senior Assistant Commissioner Silence Pondo is said to have been working with former Vice president Joyce Mujuru to bring down the Vice-President.
According to the letter to Mnangagwa, the ZACC intelligence and investigating officers allege Pondo and Home Affairs secretary Melusi Matshiya were the brains behind the plot.
"This conduct, if not dealt with urgently, will have a negative bearing on the image of the Zanu PF and government in the fight against corruption.
"Soon after his appointment as ZACC acting boss, Pondo recalled all high-profile cases, which involved senior Zanu PF and government officials from the investigations and surrendered them to Melusi Matshiya at the Ministry (of Home Affairs), who then handed them to the Gamatox faction leaders before their demise at the December congress."
"This information was being planned to be used to de-campaign the Zanu PF leadership as a rogue and corrupt party and government," the officers wrote.
The paper said Pondo was "handsomely rewarded to head the anti-graft team" so that he could arrest senior Zanu PF members, including Mnangagwa.
"Pondo is abusing his office by being used by the Gamatox faction (Mujuru camp) to fight political and personal wars at the expense of doing his job," the letter added.
"He was the link between the Mujuru business empire and their partners who smuggle gold outside the country."
Source - NewsDay
