PHILLIP Tawanda Kudzayi, elder brother of detained Sunday Mail Editor Edmund Kudakwashe Kudzayi, handed himself to the police in Harare yesterday as the crackdown on the shadowy Facebook character and blogger Baba Jukwa continues.
CHARLES LAITON
Phillip had reportedly been on the run since the arrest of his younger brother last Thursday amid reports that the siblings and other suspected accomplices, still at large, were behind the controversial social media character who published sensitive information about the State and top government officials.
Police spokesperson, Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba yesterday said Phillip, a consultant Engineer with Dick and Kunaka Engineers, handed himself over to Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Law and Order section through his lawyer, Admire Rubaya.
“He is being charged with subverting a constitutional government as defined by Section 22(2)(a)(i) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act or alternatively attempting to commit an act of insurgency,” Charamba said.
“Kudzayi [Phillip] is responsible for administering the Baba Jukwa page together with his brother Edmund and other accomplices who are still at large.”
Rubaya, meanwhile, confirmed an application for bail pending trial for Edmund was submitted at the High Court yesterday and the matter is set to be heard tomorrow.
Kudzayi (28) is alleged to have published or communicated false statements on the social network under the Baba Jukwa blog.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Kudzayi, who once worked with the Zanu PF’s election campaign team and has been described by police as a computer guru, was arrested after police investigations linked him to the shadowy Facebook character.
According to police investigations, Kudzayi, acting in connivance with Phillip, together with other unnamed suspects, allegedly created a Gmail account called [email protected] using an Econet line number 0771 446 541 registered in Phillip’s name.
The State further alleges Kudzayi planned and organised with some of his colleagues calling themselves, The Gunda Nleya Brigade and Zimbabwe Revolutionary Army, to overthrow the government “through waging a war” and urged people to join the “Zimbabwe Revolutionary Army”.
Pursuant to their plans, it is alleged, Kudzayi posted articles on the Baba Jukwa Facebook page which reportedly encouraged rebellion against the government if the July 31 general election “were stolen”.
The State also alleges that on August 7 2008 Kudzayi wrote and published an article in the Zimbabwe Mail online publication attacking the President of Zimbabwe, Robert Gabriel Mugabe.
In the said article according to the State, Kudzayi went on to “falsely label the President a dictator who commits gross human rights abuses” and further accusing him of having stolen the 2008 elections and that he had been presiding over an economic collapse.
He further allegedly labelled Mugabe “a tyrant” and accused him of taking the land from the white farmers and giving it to his cronies.
