Zanu-PF DCC violence 'ring leaders' arrrested

POLICE have arrested four Zanu-PF activists who later appeared in court Wednesday for alleged involvement in intra-party violence that broke out at the weekend leading to the firing of tear-smoke to disperse hordes of rampaging party functionaries.

Two of the arrested activists, namely Simbarashe Guvheya (40) and Zivanai Busai (37) are loyal to Information deputy minister, Kindness Paradza.

The female pair of Ruth Chikukwa (40) and Mirriam Mudoti (42) popularly known as ‘Boko Haram' was also dragged to court jointly facing public violence charges.

The quartet briefly appeared before Chinhoyi magistrate Tapiwa Banda who remanded the matter to this Thursday for bail application.

Investigating officer, Detective Assistant Inspector Newten Musende is opposing bail arguing public violence was a serious offence which interferes with other people's rights, property and attracts custodial sentence if accused persons are convicted.

He also avers Guvheya, Busai, Chikukwa and Mudoti were likely to meddle with witnesses as they lived in the same locality and all belonged to Zanu-PF.

The state case, led by Review Nikisi is that on 8 May 2021 at Chinhoyi Public Service Training Centre, Chikukwa and Mudoti and their accomplices, who are still at large, were at the venue where Zanu-PF was holding a sanctioned meeting.

Guvheya and Busai and their accomplices, who are also still at large, arrived at the venue while aboard a black Zanu-PF vehicle inscribed "Makonde Constituency" and belonging to Paradza.

When the activists met, a misunderstanding broke out between them and a fight broke out with the belligerents using various weapons which included stones, sticks and iron bars.

Upon their arrests, the activists exchanged accusations over who caused the violence.

Paradza has courted controversy within the party for allegedly shielding youth secretary Ketty Chanetsa from sanctions for alleged misdeeds.

Last weekend, police fired tear smoke to quell the riotous situation that unfolded as the beleaguered top government official convened the ill-fated meeting of 45 Zanu-PF DCC chairpersons from Chinhoyi constituency.

The meeting venue was turned into a war zone as the deputy minister's militia armed with machetes, stones, beer bottles and a spear, arrived aboard his black party-issued double-cab truck before unleashing violence.

They were, however, subdued by the predominantly Chinhoyi-based activists who were demanding Chanetsa's removal, arguing they seconded her to the post, hence could recall her.

Chanetsa, whom Paradza seeks to protect, was recently barred from attending the organ's inaugural meeting held at the same venue for being a "G40 sell-out."

She is accused of leaking party information to social media personality Gugu Ncube a.k.a "Dr Amai", who in turn allegedly uses it to denigrate the party and its leadership through social media platforms.

Chanetsa also faces charges of fomenting divisions, holding unsanctioned meetings, gossiping, maligning and blackmailing senior party leaders.

She is also accused of faking her abduction by party colleagues during the emotive DCC elections last December, thereby putting the party's name into disrepute.