MDC-T accused of abusing Copac vehicles

MDC-T national spokesperson Mr Douglas Mwonzora is being accused of abusing Copac vehicles to conduct party business in his constituency and giving an unauthorised person to drive the vehicle.

Mr Mwonzora is the legislator for Nyanga North constituency.

The vehicle a Mazda BT50 twincab has since been impounded by the police following the arrest of Mr Mwonzora's nephew Munyaradzi Mwonzora (31) while he was driving the vehicle and it had no registration number plates.

Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed the arrest.
Munyaradzi who is also a councillor for Ward 8 in Nyanga was arrested on April 9 after police received information that the vehicle was shuttling between Nyanga North constituency and Nyanga town with MDC-T supporters.

The vehicle was intercepted at a roadblock in Nyanga while being driven by Munyaradzi and it was impounded.
"Checks which were made revealed that the vehicle's registration numbers had been removed and placed under the seat. Inquiries were made and it was revealed that the vehicle belongs to the Ministry of Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs and was issued to Mr Douglas Mwonzora for the purposes of conducting Copac outreach programmes," Snr Asst Comm Charamba said.

She said a registration book was obtained from the ministry to prove that it belongs to the Government.
Police inquiries revealed the car was being kept at Mapira Village in Nyanga and was being used by Munyaradzi to co-ordinate the MDC-T's administrative issues including meetings.

"Munyaradzi was arrested on April 9 and fined US$10 for contravening Section 10 of the Vehicle Registration and Licencing Act, that is failing to display registration number plates," Snr Asst Comm Charamba said.

The vehicle was then released in the custody of one Albert Chigoche, an officer in the Ministry of Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs.
On April 10, the vehicle was spotted again being driven by Munyaradzi without the rear number plate again in Nyanga and it had five other MDC-T supporters from Ruwange area in Nyanga North. Investigations revealed the rear's bumper where the number plate could be fitted had been broken.

The five-Casper Pfumai Karamba (32), Gracious Satuku (20), Lazarus Satuku (17), Blessing Sharamba (30) and Jaina Bimbika (20) were being taken to Nyanga Registry offices to be assisted to acquire identity cards and to register as voters.

"So far investigations have revealed that the same vehicle was allegedly used to commit a public violence offence against a Zanu-PF supporter on February 13, 2011 at Chatindo Primary School in Nyamaropa.

"It had no number plates when the offence was committed," Snr Asst Comm Charamba said.
She said Munyaradzi was not a Government employee and had no right to drive the vehicle. Snr Asst Comm Charamba said this was a clear sign of misusing Government resources.

"These vehicles would not be used to conduct party business.
"After being arrested, they claim that they are being persecuted by the police yet its a clear case of an offence which has been committed," she said.

She said the vehicle was at Nyanga Police Station while investigations were in progress.