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Prosecute Mugabe — Zanu PF

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Kwekwe — Zanu PF provincial security officer for Midlands, Owen ‘Mudha’ Ncube, has distanced himself from the invasion of Sherwood Block in Kwekwe which party youths allegedly stormed in search of gold, saying it is President Robert Mugabe, who should be brought to court instead. “If it is true that Zanu PF youths were deployed […]

Kwekwe — Zanu PF provincial security officer for Midlands, Owen ‘Mudha’ Ncube, has distanced himself from the invasion of Sherwood Block in Kwekwe which party youths allegedly stormed in search of gold, saying it is President Robert Mugabe, who should be brought to court instead.

“If it is true that Zanu PF youths were deployed as alleged, why did applicant not cite the President of the party Cde RG Mugabe in the same manner as he cited me as the Zanu PF secretary for security affairs in the Midlands Province?” reads part of the affidavit deposed on Thursday in Bulawayo.

In his opposing papers filed at the High Court responding to a case where Robert Chipwanyira, the legitimate gold claim owner, approached the court seeking to have Zanu PF youths and police evicted from Sherwood Block.

Mudha said he was wrongly cited as 4th respondent by Chipwanyira.

He said it should be President Mugabe, as party leader, who should be cited as respondent in the High Court case number HC161/12.

Ncube, a Zanu PF activist in Midlands, is cited along with three top police officers for their role in the invasion of the Sherwood Block gold claims by a group of Zanu PF youths.

He recently told NewsDay he had chased away the deputy sheriff after being served with the summons and denies any involvement in the Sherwood Block scam which saw over 600 illegal gold panners mining gold under the watch of police and military personnel.

“The applicant is unnecessarily dragging my name in this legal battle. I have never been to the alleged claim nor have I been involved in any deployment of youths at whatever time.

“The allegations herein are mere suspicion which is bordering on defamation of character as I am a respected person in the Kwekwe community,” Ncube submitted.

Ncube, through his Lawyers, Mutatu & Partners, wants the court to exonerate him since he is neither President Mugabe, the police nor mining commissioner.

“How can I allow applicant access to his mining claim as if I am the responsible authority? What role did I play in the so-called refusal to abide by the commissioner’s ruling on the issue?

“If it is true that someone is looting applicant’s mining claim he is at liberty to seek an order against that person and not to try seek an interdict order vicariously,” he concludes.

The matter in which the mine owners want the gold illegally extracted from their mine returned to them and also demand police be removed from the area, is set to be heard before Justice Maphios Cheda on February 6.