Minister’s husband attacked at home

By Violet Gonda

Orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Chris Mushonga, the husband of Minister Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga, has been hospitalised after he was savagely attacked by armed robbers in his home on Thursday night. Misihairabwi-Mushonga is the Minister of Regional Integration and International Co-operation and currently part of the high level delegation of government ministers travelling with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to western countries.

A source told SW Radio Africa the medical doctor was at home with two family friends when a group of about seven armed robbers broke into his Mount Pleasant home in Harare. The source said a 4×4 vehicle, Mercedes Benz, laptops, money and cellphones are among the items believed to have been stolen by the robbers.

The thugs assaulted the three thoroughly, including using the butts of their guns. It is reported Dr. Mushonga, who is believed to be in his late 70s, got the most beatings as the gang demanded to know where he stashed his money. The source said Mushonga didn’t have a safe or money to give them and was seriously brutalised as a result. The three victims were then left locked up in the house. “Dr Mushonga is in a bad way and right now he cannot even remember his name,” said the source.

It’s reported the police were called immediately after the robbers sped off but said they could not go to the Minister’s house because they had no petrol. The ambulance service also failed to arrive.

Meanwhile, police spokesperson Wayne Bvudzijena told the website NewZimabbwe that 45 armed robbery suspects were freed by the courts on bail in the last two weeks and police believe some of them are behind this raid on the minister’s home. “We believe six people were involved in the robbery. They disarmed a police officer guarding the property. Once inside, they severely beat up Dr Mushonga and two other people before making off with an AK rifle, a Toyota Prado and two mobile phones,” Bvudzijena said.

We were not able to reach Minister Misihairabwi-Mushonga for comment. She was still in Brussels, Belgium on Friday afternoon where the government delegation was making preparations to travel to the United Kingdom, as part of the ‘re-engagement’ tour with the west.

There has been a huge increase in armed robberies, a sign of the general breakdown of the rule of law and decay in Zimbabwe.  SW Radio Africa