The man who recently caused a stir at Parliament building when he embarked on a solo demonstration to put pressure on MPs to institute a commission of enquiry into the disappearance of $15 billion diamond revenue in Chiadzwa says he is a genuine protester with no links to the State.
BY SILENCE CHARUMBIRA/OBEY MANAYITI
Several theories have emerged on Fagio Marowa’s true identity and intention. Some have said he is a brave hero eager to take on a repressive and corrupt government, but others have suggested that he could be a government spy sent to infiltrate civic society, particularly the movement pushing for answers on the whereabouts of missing democracy activist, Itai Dzamara, abducted by suspected State security agents over a year ago.
But Marowa recently told NewsDay that he was a bona fide protester concerned about the disappearance of the $15 billion diamond revenue and was neither being used by Zanu PF nor the State security machinery.
“I am not a CIO (Central Intelligence Organisation member). I can show you where I printed the placard and the T-shirt. Everyone should be putting efforts to locate the money,” he said.
“I am just an ordinary Zimbabwean affected by poor service delivery in my country yet there is $15 billion that just went missing. Zimbabweans should just go beyond these speculative issues and really look at ways to regain the lost money.”
Marowa called for the setting-up of a commission of enquiry into the diamonds saga.
“If there is anyone who illegally benefited from the missing $15 billion, they must repay it,” he said, while confirming that he was a once police officer.
- 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
His previous Facebook posts revealed that he is or was an ardent supporter of President Robert Mugabe.
But Marowa said congratulating Mugabe and First Lady Grace Mugabe on their birthdays did not mean he supported them. “I am one Zimbabwean who is proud of this country. I can say happy birthday to anyone, even you. You can check, I also posted a message on the birthday of MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai,” he said.
When Marowa protested last month, he had a placard inscribed: “15 billion yedu tavekuida! Iripi? (We now want our 15 billion! Where is it?)”
He has also posted another message saying: “Where is our 15 billion?”, the design, font and type of which raised more questions than answers in that it resembles those used by Zanu PF supporters at rallies and at burials of national heroes at the Heroes Acre.
Dzamara’s brother, Patson said he did not know Marowa before the protest. Patson was only introduced to Marowa after he had staged his one-man demo through a mutual friend, Setfree Mafukidze.
Mafukidze is a senior official in the newly-formed ZimPF party.
Patson said he had heard the allegations that Marowa could be a member of the dreaded CIO, but he was not in a position to confirm anything, although he acceded that the “theories generally make sense”.
“The day after the demo, I read about the fact that Setfree was arrested together with Marowa. Setfree requested to meet me and he came along with Marowa. I innocently and sincerely welcomed him because the demo he did and the demands he registered are in sync with my views regarding the $15 billion which was stolen by Zanu PF thugs,” he said.
“It was only after I posted on social media that some people posited that he is a Zanu PF agent. They proffered several theories to substantiate their allegation. The theories generally make sense, but I am not sure whether he is or not.
“If he is, which is possible anyway, then indeed he may be on a mission to spite Itai Dzamara and our family. That’s deplorable.”
But Mafukidze told NewsDay that it would be mischievous to try and link Marowa to the CIO.
He revealed that Marowa was once a police officer and left the ZRP to start his own business.
“I have known Marowa for three years now. He was a police officer before, but left to start his own company, which focuses on business consultancy. As far as I know, he is not a CIO operative,” Mafukidze said.
“If you are saying he is an operative, then you are equally saying I am an operative too because we planned that together. I have never worked for that organisation in my life. People should just stop speculating. In all fairness, he is genuine in his demands and I know that because we have been planning this together. I have to defend him because the protest was our idea.”
Mafukidze said the material they used for the Parliament demonstration was also similar to that used during the Dzamara commemoration early this month.
“Placards don’t matter at all. Look at the material used during the Dzamara march, could you then suggest he is also CIO? On placards you contract a person to do that for you and it will be so wrong to judge a person basing on a placard,” he added.
