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Vendors4ED chair assassination attempt suspects appear in court
8 hrs ago |
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Three suspects arrested in Bulawayo on Friday for allegedly attempting to assassinate newly elected Vendors4ED national chairperson Sawu Jere have appeared in court and were each granted US$100 bail.
The suspects - Gondo Tonderai (42) of Thornbrough, Rangemore; Muringa T. Raymond (27) of United Bulawayo Hospitals marriage quarters; and Nqobizitha Munyanyi (45) - are accused of being hired and paid US$2 500 by former Vendors4ED Bulawayo patron Tendai Charuka to kill Jere. The alleged plot reportedly followed Jere’s exposure of the misuse of part of the US$200 000 empowerment fund by Charuka, former chairperson Samora Chisvo, former secretary Bright Kwinjo and five suspended Bulawayo members.
The trio appeared in court on Saturday and were not asked to plead. They were remanded to 26 January on condition that they report to their nearest police stations every Wednesday and do not interfere with state witnesses.
Charuka - who is also listed as an accused person - did not appear in court. The magistrate questioned his absence, noting that he was required to attend the hearing. A warrant of arrest was subsequently issued against him.
According to Vendors4ED, Charuka allegedly hired the suspects and paid them US$2 500 to assassinate Jere. The attempt reportedly collapsed after one member of the group exposed the plan and alerted the police, leading to the arrest of the three suspects. The whistle‑blower was released and will testify as a state witness.
The arrests follow the recent expulsion of Chisvo and Kwinjo, and the suspension of five Bulawayo members for allegedly conniving with Charuka in the misuse of empowerment funds meant to benefit all ten provinces.
In a letter to ZANU‑PF Bulawayo Province, Jere and secretary‑general Albi Marima said the suspended members had worked with Chisvo, Kwinjo and Charuka in the alleged abuse of funds.
The suspects - Gondo Tonderai (42) of Thornbrough, Rangemore; Muringa T. Raymond (27) of United Bulawayo Hospitals marriage quarters; and Nqobizitha Munyanyi (45) - are accused of being hired and paid US$2 500 by former Vendors4ED Bulawayo patron Tendai Charuka to kill Jere. The alleged plot reportedly followed Jere’s exposure of the misuse of part of the US$200 000 empowerment fund by Charuka, former chairperson Samora Chisvo, former secretary Bright Kwinjo and five suspended Bulawayo members.
The trio appeared in court on Saturday and were not asked to plead. They were remanded to 26 January on condition that they report to their nearest police stations every Wednesday and do not interfere with state witnesses.
According to Vendors4ED, Charuka allegedly hired the suspects and paid them US$2 500 to assassinate Jere. The attempt reportedly collapsed after one member of the group exposed the plan and alerted the police, leading to the arrest of the three suspects. The whistle‑blower was released and will testify as a state witness.
The arrests follow the recent expulsion of Chisvo and Kwinjo, and the suspension of five Bulawayo members for allegedly conniving with Charuka in the misuse of empowerment funds meant to benefit all ten provinces.
In a letter to ZANU‑PF Bulawayo Province, Jere and secretary‑general Albi Marima said the suspended members had worked with Chisvo, Kwinjo and Charuka in the alleged abuse of funds.
Source - Byo24news
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