A GUN-WIELDING bogus State security agent allegedly breached President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s close security on two occasions last week, only to be picked up by alert members of the military police after he positioned himself close to the Head of State, NewsDay has learnt.
BY DESMOND CHINGARANDE
The accused, Guthrie Chiredzero (40), was arrested by alert soldiers on December 6 while trying to disguise his identify by controlling movement of people at the renaming of King George (KGVI) Barracks to Josiah Magama Tongogara Barracks in Harare last week.
Two days before, he had allegedly used the same modus operandi and gained entry into State House, where Cabinet ministers were taking oaths of office before Mnangagwa.
Chiredzero yesterday appeared before Harare magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa facing charges of possession of an offensive weapon at a public gathering, impersonation and forgery.
His lawyer, John Ndomene, filed a complaint against the military for allegedly over-detaining his client from December 6. But the court dismissed the application, saying there was no evidence of his arrest by the military and remanded him to today for bail application.
It is the State case that on December 4 this year, Chiredzero sneaked into State House during the inauguration of Cabinet ministers masquerading as a State security agent and was spotted near the podium controlling human traffic.
It was later established that Chiredzero produced a fake Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) identity card at the security checkpoint to gain entry into State House.
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Using the same modus operandi, Chiredzero broke into Mnangagwa’s security team at KGVI Barracks on December 6, where he arrived at the venue in the company of two unidentified accomplices driving a BMW X5.
Chiredzero again produced a fake CIO identity card bearing his names.
While at the venue, Chiredzero was seen roaming around the front seats before he allegedly positioned himself close to the podium, where Mnangagwa was addressing the gathering.
The State alleges Chiredzero was intercepted by alert military personnel, who inquired about his presence and he claimed to be a CIO officer.
Upon realising that Chiredzero was being quizzed by soldiers, his unidentified accomplices sneaked out of the venue and disappeared.
The State alleges military personnel then established that Chiredzero was a bogus CIO operative and he had a 38mm special Amando Rossi South African revolver with three live rounds of ammunition and two spent cartridges.
He was also found in possession of a forged Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission identity card inscribed, “Government of Zimbabwe executive director anti-corruption” and a fake metal driver’s licence issued in his name. Sebastian Mutizirwa appeared for the State.
