The secretary for the Zanu PF women’s league, Oppah Muchinguri, yesterday appeared to admit her party engages the services of the violent shadowy Mbare-based group Chipangano, but said other political parties also did the same.
Muchinguri, who is co-chairperson of the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (Jomic), said Chipangano was being “hired” by politicians from both Zanu PF and MDC-T to attack their rivals.
“An MDC colleague told me that when some people in his party wanted to deal with another person in the same party, they would also hire Chipangano. These youths are being used by politicians and Chipangano is on hire,” Muchinguri said.
“A committee was put in place at the highest level to investigate it (Chipangano) to find out who is responsible (for running it). Those (Chipangano) are non-State actors that have gone to the extent of stopping government programmes taking place.
“I really believe that the sooner we as a nation get on it and act on it, the sooner we send a message to other similar groups that might want to come up. Government must deal with those perpetrators once and for all.”
Responding to allegations that the MDC-T also hired out the militia group, party deputy spokesperson Tabitha Khumalo said her party did not need to “hire” Chipangano.
Keep Reading
- 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
Muchinguri also joined Zanu PF national chairperson Simon Khaya Moyo in castigating suspected Zanu PF supporters who allegedly murdered an MDC-T official, Cephas Magura, in Mudzi recently. Jomic said in a statement yesterday Magura’s death portrayed Zimbabwe as a violent nation.
“The killing of Mr Magura in Mudzi last week bids all to be ambassadors of peace, tolerance and respect for diversity of opinion and views.
“We will soon organise a public meeting for all key stakeholders in Mudzi to speak against inter-party violence which continues to hurt the name of Zimbabwe,” Jomic said.
“The law (must) be allowed to take its course. Zimbabwe cannot afford to have its image continually soiled through the acts of misguided elements who believe they have a right to kill in order for their views to prevail.”