A ZANU PF Chidziva district chairperson, who went missing in the run up to the party’s primary elections has been found dead. Staff Reporters
The chairperson was only identified as Murombedzi.
According to several party officials and eyewitnesses, Murombedzi’s body was discovered floating in a dam near Banket yesterday morning.
Sources in Banket told NewsDay the body of the activist, who had expressed interest in taking part in the party’s primary elections which ended last Wednesday, was discovered after the man went missing for more than a week.
“The body has been found floating in the dam, but it has not been retrieved as yet as police have not yet arrived at the scene,” said an eyewitness, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“He was reported missing in the run up to the primary elections.” Contacted for comment yesterday Mashonaland West province police spokesperson Inspector Clemence Mabweazara said he could not positively confirm the incident as he had not received the report as yet.
“There is someone who was also enquiring about the same matter earlier in the day, but I do not have any information about it as yet. If you can contact me tomorrow (today), I will have the facts,” Inspector Mabweazara said.
When initially contacted over the issue yesterday afternoon, Zanu PF Mashonaland West provincial chairman John Mafa said: “Is that what has happened? What I know is that he was reported missing a few days ago and a pair of trousers he was wearing was found somewhere. But that he has been found dead, I am hearing it from you. Let me find out.”
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Contacted later in the evening Mafa confirmed the death of the official, but said information he had received was that the body was discovered floating in the dam on Saturday.
“I have now heard that his body was found on Saturday and people believe he was murdered, but we will obviously wait to hear from the police what happened,” he said.
The incident comes barely a week after two huts belonging to independent candidate Marian Chombo’s supporters were gutted by fire on the eve of Zanu PF primaries.
Marian was disqualified from the primaries which were won by her ex-husband Local government minister Ignatius Chombo.
She has since proceeded to file nomination papers to stand as an independent candidate in the battle for the Zvimba North House of Assembly seat.
