VICE-PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ally, Gokwe-Nembudziya MP Justice Mayor Wadyajena was arrested during the Zanu PF conference in Victoria Falls on Saturday, after he allegedly passed an “unpleasant” remark about First Lady Grace Mugabe while insulting fellow Zanu PF member Jimayi Muduvuri.
BY MOSES MATENGA
Wadyajena was still in Victoria Falls yesterday after having his statement recorded by police and is set to appear in court today. The legislator is denying the charge.
His lawyer Givemore Muvhiringi confirmed the arrest.
“He is being charged with criminal insult. He is said to have attacked one Jimayi Muduvuri using some unprintable words. We went to give a statement today and we will go to court tomorrow (today),” he said.
Muduvuri, according to a police report, claims that Wadyajena poked fun of Grace and her hangers-on.
Although details were still sketchy, NewsDay gathered that the previous day, Muduvuri had unsuccessfully filed a police report claiming Wadyajena had taunted him, saying remove “your mother’s portraits on your car”, in apparent reference to Grace’s portrait pictures. Grace’s images are found on most gullible party members’ vehicles, including Wadyajena.
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But the report was allegedly rubbished by the police, who said Muduvuri had no evidence of what he was talking about.
Hardly 24 hours later, the Kadoma businessman reportedly returned to the police station, this time to file a criminal insult report, leading to Wadyajena’s arrest.
Some party activists, however, said the Zanu PF factional fights were behind the arrest as Muduvuri was believed to be sympathetic to a faction aligned to the party’s G40, reportedly fighting against Mnangagwa’s bid to succeed President Robert Mugabe.
The officials also said the tiff between Muduvuri and Wadyajena was also centred on the former’s bid to take over the Gokwe-Nembudziya seat after failing to make a breakthrough in the 2008 and 2013 elections.
