By Tatenda Mabasa
RUSAPE – The leading MDC-T candidate in the race for the orphaned Makoni Central constituency Mr Patrick Sagandira was today arrested by CID details in Rusape following an assault report by his rival Grace Kwinjeh’s campaign manager Mr Tazviona Marima.
Sagandira’s arrest follows hot on the heels of that of MP for Makoni South Mr Pishai Muchauraya on allegations of making death threats to former Daily News Editor Geoff Nyarota and his campaign manager Mr Amos Kutiya.
The latest incident allegedly occurred at Nyabadza Business Center where Kwinjeh’s bid for public office was left on the verge of collapse following a poor showing on Saturday. Mr Sagandira’s incarceration has angered party supporters, who now question the authenticity of the claim and the motive behind it.
In an SMS to Nehanda Radio on Monday Mr Sagandira said: “Arrested. At CID Rusape. Marima says I kicked him on Saturday.”
Moments later his mobile phone had been surrendered to his young brother Peter.
MDC-T provincial spokesman Mr Pishai Muchauraya confirmed and condemned Mr Sagandira’s arrest.
“He has been arrested following a report of violence by a fellow party cadre Mr Tazviona Marima, who happens to be the organizing secretary for Makoni Central and Grace Kwinjeh’s campaign manager.
“It is an internal plot, where cadres resort to police and courts when sensing defeat. It is not surprising, I am a victim of such machinations myself, and we condemn such practices in the party,” said Mr Muchauraya.
Kwinjeh, like fellow scribe Nyarota, is disputing the results that put Mr Sagandira ahead of her, alleging vote irregularities. Kwinjeh entered Saturday’s poll with a healthy 182 votes and polled 50, to take her ballot tally to 222 votes.
Sagandira, was trailing her with 171 votes and polled 119 to take his vote tally to 280 and Kwinjeh is disputing this lead alleging vote irregularities and violence – in which her manager Marima is the only complainant.
Kwinjeh, whose chances suffered a lethal blow due to her absence on the ground and reliance on weak emissaries that failed to lubricate her campaign machine as a founder member of the party, had been misled into believing that she had the seat under wraps two weeks ago.
That was despite the fact that only nine out of 16 wards had cast the ballot when the Deputy Women’s Affairs Minister, Jessie Majome, Senator Ceaphas Makuyana and provincial member Teddy Chipere, who presided over the voting, called off the process due to darkness.
The process continued for the remaining wards on Saturday, but voting was not completed, again, with only two wards remaining.
Kwinjeh now alleges Saturday’s process took place without her election manager Marima and supporters.
“For the record I am not accepting the charade that took place in Makoni Central. I have spoken to Mr. Marima, and have come to the sad conclusion that I will not participate in a sham process that some people in the Manicaland province are pushing for through intimidation and vote buying to bring success for their candidate.
“I won the last election and when some people found it difficult to announce me the winner, working together with their preferred candidate, they disrupted the process, in order to buy time and get this seat by hook or crook.
“There was violence on Saturday and we have a police report of people again who were badly assaulted by supporters of this candidate (Sagandira). Again the party did not say anything.
“So I just feel there are a lot of double standards at play. Something is going on, something that is just so wrong and I am not accepting it.”
Ms Majome told Nehanda Radio that the elections in Makoni Central were still underway and no winner has been declared.
“That election had a first round and preliminary results were announced. I don’t know who told her the information (that she had won) that was incorrect and on Saturday we continued and announced preliminary results again,” Majome said.
Voting is still outstanding in Wards 7 and 11.