Ministers face arrest over Baba Jukwa saga

AS the fallout over the Baba Jukwa saga continues, the net is closing in on those connected to the shadowy Facebook character with high-profile arrests of cabinet ministers, politburo members, legislators and senior army, police and security officers expected in the next few weeks.

The police are investigating close to 20 high-profile people (names supplied), who include journalists linked to the Baba Jukwa Facebook page, which the state alleges was aimed at whipping up emotions and inciting a rebellion against government if the July 31 general elections last year were stolen.

Top police sources told the Zimbabwe Independent the Law and Order Department of the Zimbabwe Republic Police would soon descend on those suspected to be collaborators in the Baba Jukwa saga.
Sunday Mail editor Edmund Kudzayi was arrested last week on Thursday, accused of being the brains behind Baba Jukwa.

He is accused of attempting to overthrow the government, and was charged with subverting a constitutionally-elected government or alternatively attempting to commit an act of insurgency, banditry, sabotage or terrorism.

The "computer guru", as the police describe him, was also charged with publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to the state, or alternatively undermining the authority of or insulting the President.

According to police investigations, Kudzayi, acting in connivance with his elder brother Phillip, who was arrested on Tuesday evening, together with other unnamed suspects, created a Gmail account called babajukwa2013@gmail.com using an Econet line number 0771 446 541 registered in Phillip's name.

"Edmund is not helping his collaborators, instead he is incriminating them. The net will soon close in on Baba Jukwa collaborators and the strategists behind the website. Here we are talking about people who provided information either to Baba Jukwa or Amai Jukwa, who are one and the same," the source said.

"The police have a list of at least 20 people under surveillance with dockets being prepared."

The top cop added: "The list includes ministers, politburo members, people of ordinary rank and file in both sensitive and non-sensitive institutions. Here, I am talking about defence, security and police officers. There is now a lot of selling out taking place with evidence being proffered."

The senior police officers said recent postings on Baba Jukwa published after Kudzayi was arrested did not exonerate him.

"Baba Jukwa is a network - he was not working alone. The collaborators are running it now. Whichever way, if he is Amai Jukwa or Baba Jukwa, he has opened himself to huge defamation lawsuits," said another police officer.

The police are also looking into an Absa bank account number 4072818065 which, according to documents with the police, was used to deposit donations to form the Gunda Nleya Brigade and Zimbabwe Revolutionary Army to overthrow the government through war.

In separate briefings with the Independent, senior Zanu PF officials suggested that an independent commission of enquiry headed by a judge, similar to the Justice Wilson Sandura Commission that investigated the Willowgate scandal, be set up.

The Willowgate scandal claimed the scalps of several ministers and led to a prominent nationalist, Maurice Nyagumbo, committing suicide after being implicated.

"Because of the involvement of the police, army and security officers who are being implicated in this saga, it might require an independent commission of enquiry headed by a judge along the lines of the Sandura Commission," said a senior party official.

Baba Jukwa tormented Zanu PF prior to last year's general polls.

State authorities became concerned when revelations on Baba Jukwa started to include often accurate details about the activities of government and Zanu PF top brass, suggesting possible connivance of senior officials.