Bizarre twist as Muchauraya charged with ‘murder’ of John Nyamande

By Tichaona Sibanda

HARARE – The case in which the MDC-T MP for Makoni South, Pishai Muchauraya is facing charges of making threats to commit ‘murder’ took a twist on Wednesday, when police charged him with the murder of the late parliamentarian, John Nyamande.

The police admitted they don’t have any evidence linking Muchauraya to the death of Nyamande but told him they will proceed with the case by way of summons.

Muchauraya, the MDC-T spokesman for Manicaland province was however made to sign a warned and cautioned statement at the Harare central police station on Wednesday.

The man he is accused of killing, Nyamande was the MDC-T MP for Makoni Central, who died in a horrific car crash in November 2009 near Ruwa that left his Isuzu KB vehicle a mangled wreck.

The 57 year-old Nyamande was killed instantly when his car collided with a stationary truck that was partially parked off the Harare-Marondera highway.

After the crash, police who attended the scene of the accident told Nyamande’s best friend, Hebson Makuvise (Zimbabwe’s current ambassador to Germany) that the MP died after suffering multiple broken bones as well as severe head and chest injuries.

Muchauraya’s defence lawyer Tonderai Bhatasara told SW Radio Africa that the case against his client took a sinister twist when police summoned him just before his Wednesday court appearance, where he stands accused of making threats to commit murder.

On Tuesday Muchauraya was charged with two counts of threats to ‘murder’ his party’s political rival, Geoff Nyarota. One of those who allegedly received death threats from the legislator is Sophia Chibayambuya, an aunt to Nyarota and an MDC-T aspiring councilor in the same constituency.

Muchauraya and Nyarota are expected to square off in the party primaries for the Makoni South constituency that are to be held between the 3rd and 15th May. For this case, Muchauraya appeared in court on Wednesday where he was granted $100 bail and ordered not to interfere with witnesses. The state set 23rd April as the trial date.

“It’s very interesting to note that the murder charge stems from an affidavit that was generated by Nyarota in his case against the MP. It means the complainant in the death of John Nyamande in a car accident is Geoff Nyarota,” Bhatasara said.

The ‘murder’ case against Muchauraya centers on the same affidavit submitted to the police following threats allegedly made to Nyarota and Chibayambuya.

Nyarota accuses Muchauraya of calling Chibayambuya on the 25th February and telling her: “Mava kuda kutanga hondo. Munoziva here kuti ndisu takauraya John Nyamande? (You want to start a war? Do you know it’s us who killed John Nyamande?).” SW Radio Africa