THE National Democratic Working Group (NDWG) has condemned the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) for allegedly failing to apprehend the people responsible for the “heinous” crimes committed against its leader, Job Sikhala, and his followers.
The group, which is fighting Zanu PF’s push for a constitutional amendment to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term in office beyond 2028, has of late faced a challenge of “terrorist” attacks.
Mnangagwa has on several occasions publicly stated that he will step down in 2028 and let Zanu PF and the country move forward, and choose a new leader.
However, NDWG said it would not succumb to Zanu PF arm-twisting tactics to silence it as it had strengthened the inclusive movement to make the bold declaration.
In a statement, NDWG northern region facilitator Wurayayi Zembe said ZRP did not publicly condemn the politically-motivated attacks.
“The ZRP has also not publicly condemned the violent disruption of advocate Job Sikhala’s book launch held in Masvingo city at the Civic Centre on July 11, 2025.
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“Again, it was the Zanu PF terrorists who invaded and violently disrupted the peaceful book launch, and later destroyed some copies of the book while stealing other copies as well,” Zembe said.
“The thuggery, another heinous crime against Advocate Job Sikhala, was captured on camera with the culprits clearly identified in videos that were given to the Masvingo ZRP as evidence when a police report was made on July 23, 2025, which is confirmed by RRB 6403795.
“The name of the ring leader of the Zanu PF terrorists, who violently disrupted the Masvingo book launch, is Esau Mutanho, who later contested and lost in the ward 7 Masvingo urban council by-election.”
“Now, therefore, as members of the NDWG, we take note and observe that we no longer have the constitutional protection of all public institutions of government in Zimbabwe,” the NDWG northern region facilitator said.
“As we have become the legitimate representative voice of the people in our country, we wish to alert the nation of Zimbabwe to take precaution by crafting peaceful schemes of local self-defence against increasing violent acts of Zanu PF terrorism.
“Peaceful self-defence mechanisms of the Zimbabwean masses will always triumph over wicked terrorism by all minority negative forces of evil and darkness in our land.
“As NDWG, we abhor violence. Zanu PF terrorism must be stopped by the masses of Zimbabwe, now.”
However, Zanu PF director for information Farai Marapira dismissed the allegations saying they were orchestrated to popularise Sikhala’s book launch.
“Why should we, as Zanu PF, have anything to do with the book launch of a 'wash double' politician like Job Sikhala? He is a citizen who has got a right to write whatever he wants as long as his writing does not infringe on the right of another,” he said.
“The citizen has a right to launch or publish whatever he has written. So as Zanu PF, and being a law-abiding party, we have no reason or any need to disturb him.”
Marapira accused Sikhala of creating a fake story to try and create some hype around “his much ignored book”.
“And, of course, we all know that for anyone to find relevance, they have to speak of Zanu PF,” he said.
“He is trying to find more relevance and viewership, and take up his book which is clearly destined to fall and fail.
“So the only way to do that is to speak about Zanu PF because we are the only game in town.”
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi also dismissed the story and urged the NDWG to find out with the police about the reported cases.
“The procedure is that when a report is made to the police and as the police conduct investigations, there should be regular communication between the complainant and the police,” he said.
“In this regard, I urge the party to go to the relevant police station then I will make a follow-up.”