Second suspect detained over Zanu PF office fire

By Tererai Karimakwenda

The saga that started when a fire destroyed the ZANU PF offices in Highfields suburb last week continued Wednesday, when a second suspect appeared in court and was charged with “aggravated malicious damage to property”. 

The prosecutor accused 40-year old Collin Chisunga of setting the blaze that gutted the office, and a supermarket next door, on 28th September, claiming that he had accomplices who are still at large.

But earlier this week on Monday, a mother and her baby were released after spending two days in detention for the same crime. According to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, 32-year-old Spiwe Pambayi was arrested on Saturday and detained together with her one-year-old son Clifford Mbewe.

An “informant” had allegedly told police that Pambayi boasted that the “fire-fire operation yatakaita nezuro yakabudirira,” which translates to “the fire-fire operation that we conducted yesterday (Friday night) was a success”.

Chisunga’s arrest also came after he allegedly boasted: “We came all the way from South Africa. You can’t do anything to us. We have already dealt with ZANU PF office Machipisa.” This was said to have happened in a bar at a shopping Centre in Highfield.

The magistrate remanded Chisunga in custody until 16th October and advised him to apply for bail at the High Court. There does not appear to be a proper investigation being conducted by the police, as Chisunga is the second suspect to be accused after allegedly screaming out his guilt.

ZANU PF has implicated their main opposition, the MDC-T party, in what they suggested was a petrol-bombing. The MDC-T dismissed the allegations and insisted their supporters were not violent people. The party suggested that ZANU PF look within its own circles for the perpetrators. SW Radio Africa