Senior Zanu PF members from Manicaland have reportedly accused each other of witchcraft as jostling for positions ahead of next year’s general elections gathers momentum.
A group comprising war veterans leader Joseph Chinotimba, former Agriculture minister Kumbirai Kangai, Buhera North MP William Mtomba, Kenneth Mwanditurira and Tapiwa Zengeya has sued Zanu PF district coordinating committee chairman for Buhera, Zvenyika Machokoto and his wife for conspiring to kill them.
Machokoto (42) and his wife Judith Muodzeri (46) pleaded not guilty to section 98 (1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform Act) charges of conspiring to engage in practices commonly associated with witchcraft.
The pair appeared before Mutare magistrate Annia Ndiraya last Friday when trial opened and were remanded to November 2 for continuation of trial.
Public prosecutor Mike Tembo told the court between October 2010 and January 16 this year, the couple sought the services of a famous traditional healer, Jimmy Motsi, to kill, through witchcraft, Chinotimba and his team.
Motsi recently made headlines when he led a team of Zanu PF members in the exhumation process of fallen heroes countrywide.
According to the State papers, Machokoto is reportedly eyeing the Buhera Senate seat. It is alleged that the stumbling block to his political dreams are the complainants.
In his testimony, Buhera North MP William Mtomba said he came to know of the plot when the traditional healer came to his office and advised him that he had been offered $7 000 for the job.
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Shocked by the news, the MP allegedly invited Chinotimba who also listened to the spine-chilling plot.
The matter was later reported to police in Harare who set up a trap and recorded Motsi allegedly discussing the plot with the couple.
The recorded clip is being used in court as an exhibit.
Chinotimba told the court he was still in a state of shock.
“Some of us are politicians, that’s why that man sought the services of a ‘killer’ to have us killed. Politics!” said Chinotimba.
