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My life is in danger – Gatsi

Politics
Embattled Zanu PF Bulawayo provincial youth chairperson Butholezwe Gatsi Tueday accused his opponents of baying for his blood and tarnishing his image.

Embattled Zanu PF Bulawayo provincial youth chairperson Butholezwe Gatsi yesterday accused opponents in the party of baying for his blood by “cooking up” unfounded allegations to tarnish his image.

Report by Nduduzo Tshuma This followed reports that last week unknown Zanu PF youths filed a police report alleging Gatsi had stolen a party vehicle engine. However, Gatsi and acting Zanu PF provincial chairman for Bulawayo Killian Sibanda dismissed the allegations.

  The party vehicle was sent to a local garage sometime last year for repairs and has been allegedly stripped of its engine.

  Gatsi said the police were yet to summon him over the matter.

  “There is absolutely no case there because I am not the one who sent the vehicle to the mechanic. The mechanic collected the vehicle from the party offices and was handed the key by the provincial administrator,” Gatsi said.

  “They have failed to remove me politically and are now resorting to dirty tactics. The police report is one of those attempts to try and get rid of me through unorthodox means. Now I am afraid to go to the party offices, as I fear that they will poison my food. I fear for my life because some of these people have become so desperate to get rid of me.”

  Acting police provincial spokesperson Bhekimpilo Ndlovu said they were still investigating the report.

  “We are still investigating the matter,” he said without elaborating. Gatsi was in August “suspended” by the national youth executive for allegedly leaking contents of the organ’s meeting to politburo members, but the provincial youth leader defied the move describing it as “unconstitutional”.

  The matter threatened to split the party along factional lines as Gatsi was reportedly linked to a group led by Vice-President Joice Mujuru.

  Party national chairperson Simon Khaya Moyo and youth league secretary Absolom Sikhosana, however, distanced themselves from the matter.

  Secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa is on record as saying Gatsi’s suspension was not done properly, adding that the proper procedure would be to bring him before a national disciplinary committee chaired by Moyo.