Police dismiss Muchinguri’s kidnappings claims

By Xolisani Ncube

Police have dismissed claims by Zanu PF women’s league boss Oppah Muchinguri that some of the expected delegates to the female conference beginning today in the capital have been kidnapped as factional fights in the party escalate.

In a statement issued by the national police spokesperson, Paul Nyathi, last night, the uniformed force said they checked with all police stations countrywide, but no single report of alleged kidnappings had been filed.

“Following recent media reports on alleged kidnappings, the police have been approached by Zanu PF inquiring and verifying where there are reports… we have since checked with all stations, districts and provinces and for the record, no kidnapping cases have been reported,” Nyathi said.

The statement by police came a day after party spokesperson Rugare Gumbo denied reports that the party has been rocked by a series of kidnappings associated with factional fights ahead of the women’s league’s elective conference.

Muchinguri told a press conference on Monday that they were concerned with cases of kidnappings targeting delegates expected to attend the women’s elective congress.

Muchinguri said the alleged kidnappings took place in Masvingo, Manicaland and Mashonaland Central.

“We have received reports of kidnappings of delegates to the forthcoming conference, with most of them coming from Masvingo, Manicaland and Mashonaland provinces,” said Muchinguri.

She pleaded with the police to take the reports seriously.

But Nyathi said, if anyone has evidence on the kidnappings they should report the matter to the police immediately as it is “their prerogative to investigate such criminal acts”.

“It is, therefore, important for the public to report to the relevant police stations since they provide the requisite assistance in terms of attending scenes, investigating and accounting for the suspects,” he said.

On Tuesday, Gumbo told The Zimbabwe Mail that Muchinguri’s claims were false and aimed at tarnishing the image of the party.

“I want to categorically say that there is nothing like that and no reports of such nature have been received by the party,” said Gumbo. “People who are going around talking about kidnappings are using the party’s name to try and prop up their fortunes, (and) this is a ploy to tarnish the image of the party.

Efforts to get a comment from Muchinguri last night were fruitless as her phone went unanswered.

The ruling party is embroiled in factional fights with two names emerging as the front runners battling to replace President Robert Mugabe.

Vice-President Joice Mujuru and Justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa have topped the list of those said to be positioning themselves to take over from Mugabe.

However, both have denied reports they lead factions within the party plotting to take over from Mugabe.

Meanwhile, the party said it had managed to raise food and other necessities to ensure that the conference set to start today does not flop.

Gumbo said donations from local businesspeople have helped rescue the party from a crisis.

“The conference is going ahead and we have people who have come to the assistance. It’s all systems go and we expect that there will be no challenges this time around,” he said.

During last week’s youth conference, Mugabe and his wife, Grace, had to intervene by donating maize meal and 30 beasts to feed over 3 000 youths.

This was after the organising department led by Didymus Mutasa had reportedly failed to mobilise enough resources to cater for the youths. The Zimbabwe Mail