Trevor Ncube police report 'disappears'

THE mystery surrounding recent strange military visits to Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) chairman Trevor Ncube's Harare home, took a new twist yesterday amid reports that police in Highlands could no longer locate the record.

Ncube, whose media house publishes NewsDay, Zimbabwe Independent and The Standard, said the latest developments raised a stink, given that the "visitors'" motives were still unknown.

He said following two suspicious visits by suspected military officers driving a black Mercedes Benz vehicle, registration number BCB 7664, his sister made a report at Highlands Police Station.

"Today (yesterday), my sister and staff went back to the police station for feedback. In a strange twist the police said there was no record of the report having been made," Ncube said.

"The reference number was not on their records and the detailed report that had been made could not be found. So they said another report/statement be made, which was done then and there with the understanding the previous reference number would suffice.

He added: "My sister and staff were requested to report at 8:30am today (yesterday) to check on progress. On reporting this morning (yesterday), my sister was informed that the car registration number BCB 7664 could not be traced. And this was all the officer could share.

"The officer said only the officer-in-charge could provide the rest of the information about the incident we reported. He was clearly uncomfortable and not authorised to disclose further information.

"In the meantime, we still have a lot of questions unanswered. Who were these visitors and what was the purpose of the visit? Was this an official visit or rogue State elements sent to harass and intimidate?

"Is somebody abusing State resources to advance personal interests? Remember that we have been made to believe that the number plate indicated that our visitors were from military intelligence and yet the beret hats indicated they were from the Presidential Guard.

"As law-abiding citizens, we expect protection from the police and the military. It is absolutely unacceptable that State institutions and resources are deployed to harass and intimidate by those in power as appears to be the case here. Who will protect us if the State turns rogue on civilians?"