HARARE – The land wrangle between former Harare South lawmaker Shadreck Mashayamombe, and 55 Zanu PF youths that were allocated stands in 2014 by the former has morphed into a factional blood bathe with people believed to be from Mashayamombe’s faction unleashing an orgy of violence coupled with forced evictions and demolitions last month.
A local publication in June last year in collaboration with Information Development Trust (IDT) reported how Mashayamombe had allocated stands on state land ranging from 1,500 to 4,020 square metres to 55 Zanu PF youths under Harare South Housing Projects Cooperative Pvt (Ltd).
Mashayamombe later resurfaced in 2016 trying to repossess the stands using a company called Tanaka Development Group (TDG) he controls.
The impasse between Mashayamombe and the 55 youths has continued unabated despite being before the courts and the offices of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputy Kembo Mohadi.
Investigations unearthed that on February 22, local Zanu PF leader Leonard Kudakwashe Gono who is linked to Mashayamombe’s faction, with several accomplices including his siblings attacked two Zanu PF youths Mark Barai and Leeroy Tsikada on stand number 8989.
Barai and Tsikada were assaulted after they had secured piece-work to level the ground on the stand number 8989 from Ronald Farakeza who is the cousin to Tichayana Kashiri who was allocated the stand in 2014 by Mashayamombe.
Gono and his accomplices assaulted Barayi and Tsikadi using wire whips and Sjamboks accusing the duo of trespassing on the stand Gono claimed belonged to his late brother Anthony Gono.
The assailants proceeded to dismantle structures, including a two-roomed house and a stand-alone toilet, on stand number 8989.
Subsequently, Barai and Tsikada were arrested on charges of criminal trespassing at Waterfalls Police Station, denied medical attention, and legal representation despite sustaining injuries.
Nehanda Radio gleaned on a video taken at Waterfalls Police Station where Barai and Tsikada admit they were assaulted by Gono, Chikono, and Neganda assaulted them using wire whips and Sjamboks.
On February 22, Barai and Tsikada appeared at the Mbare Magistrates’ Court and were remanded in prison until Tuesday and they were granted free bail.
Investigations revealed that the stand number 8989 claimed by both Gono and Kashiri was not in either party’s name, but rather Mashayamombe according to the master file records of urban state land.
Gono last Saturday on February 24, escalated the tensions by recruiting over 60 Zanu PF youths including pirate taxis touts from Hopley armed with machetes, clubs, knobkerries, and bricks leading to another outbreak of violence in Hopley.
Eye witnesses say dozens of residents and innocent bystanders were injured in the orgy of violence erupted unleashed by Gono’s thugs.
Video footage gleaned on by Nehanda Radio shows the factional brawls between the two factions during their violent clashes.
During the violent clashes the rival Zanu PF leader Justice Taruva was surrounded and outnumbered by Gono and his thugs who assaulted him using stones closing on him while Gono shouted “Ngaafe, Muroyi munhu uyu (He should die this person is a witch),” according to some eyewitnesses.
Taruva sustained serious injuries from the attack including a deep laceration on his left arm.
Eyewitnesses say that Toonaya Chimhanda, a colleague of Taruva brandished a 6.85 mm pistol but didn’t not fire any shots when Gono’s hired thugs were advancing for the attack.
“Toonaya (Chimhanda) pulled out his pistol when Gono’s and his hired muscle were advancing towards us in attack.
“He however, did not fire any shots or warning shots in the air seeing that people that were put in the front line were overzealous intoxicated youths that were between the ages of 17-28,” said any eyewitness who preferred anonymity fearing victimisation.
In a bizarre turn of events, police officer sergeant Learnmore Masawi, related to one of the assaulted youths Tsikada, was falsely accused of flashing Chimhanda’s gun when he was caught in the crossfire at the scene while visiting Tsikada’s wife on a social call.
Investigations confirmed that Chimhanda’s 6.85mm pistol was a registered firearm with serial number 216328.
Chimhanda, Masawi, Spencer Mavhura, and Kudakwashe Gwaze, all crucial witnesses to Gono’s savage attack, were arrested by police at Waterfalls Police Station and later transferred to Harare Central Police Station under questionable circumstances.
According to sources, inspector Milton Nyamavara, stationed at Waterfalls Police Station played a critical role in the controversial transfer of key eyewitnesses to Harare Central Police Station, which is believed to have been orchestrated to prevent them from testifying against Gono and his hired muscle at the Mbare Magistrates’ Court.
Taruva, fearing for his safety, has gone into hiding, alleging a conspiracy between Mashayamombe’s faction and the police to eliminate him.
He raised concerns about the mishandling of his case and attempts to suppress evidence.
“I’ve gone into hiding since I discovered that assistant inspector Zivanayi Wozhele called me when I was at Gomo Hospital (Harare Central Hospital), asking for my personal information and home phone number.
“He said he was sending cops to record my statement but never did.
“On the other side, Harare South MP (Trymore) Kanopula framed Mr Masawi and Toonaya Chimhanda, who are my main witnesses, with the support of my attackers and Nyamavara to ensure no one would testify on my behalf,” said Taruva.
“When I called Waterfalls Police Station to inquire, they told me that my docket was already in court, but the investigating officer, Constable Stewart Mandikisi, never came to hear my side of the story because I am the complainant.
“Instead, he went to court with a statement that I did not make.
“When I sent my colleague, Goshen Magidi, with my original statement and medical report, Mandikisi never submitted the copy but went into vetting with an incomplete docket and the case was thrown out,” he said.
“I then realised that there is a conspiracy involving the Harare South MP, waterfalls police, Gono and his G40 youths to eliminate me so that the truth can’t come out,” added Taruva.
On February 24, in the evening Gono, was arrested at Harare Central Hospital while seeking medical attention after Taruva identified him.
Harare Central Hospital security led by chief investigator Douglas Dzobo apprehended Gono and surrendered him into police custody.
Gono was later transferred to Waterfalls Police Station.
Gono in an interview denied being responsible for assaulting Taruva saying he is the one who was attacked by Taruva with a knife and sustained a cut on his left arm.
Sources allege that Harare South MP Trymore Kanopula went to Waterfalls to negotiate Gono’s release which was successful.
On February 25 Kanopula visited Taruva while he was still awaiting surgery to convince him to drop charges against Gono.
“Kanopula told me he was sorry for what happened to me and said as my MP he had a proposal for me to drop charges against Gono and he would compensate me since I now have a permanent injury.
“When I told him I was not interested in his proposal and money, he never gave me a response but just stood and walked away,” said Taruva.
Efforts to reach Kanopula to comment on the matter were futile as his phone rang unanswered and he did not respond to the questions sent to him.
On Monday February 25 while Taruva was admitted at Harare Central Hospital awaiting surgery he instructed his colleague Goshen Magidi to submit his statement and attached medical records at Waterfalls Police Station.
Magidi claims when he arrived at Waterfalls Police Station he was bizarrely instructed by Nyamavara to follow Investigating Officer (IO) constable Steward Mandikisi to Mbare Magistrates’ Court to submit the documents without the presence of a police officer.
“When I arrived at Mbare Magistrates’ Court, I submitted Taruva’s written statement and medical reports to officer Mandikisi, who told me he was going to submit them to the PP (Public Prosecutor), but he never did.
“I later observed Mandikisi with Mashayamombe, who was also in court with around 20 paid goons who had caused the incident in Hopley.
“Mandikisi showed Mashayamombe Taruva’s statement and later disappeared and Taruva’s statement and medical report were never attached to a docket that was purportedly opened on Taruva’s behalf,” according to Mandikisi.
Magidi suspects Mandikisi was bribed by Mashayamombe, and that a well-planned strategy was already in place to ensure the Taruva case collapses in court.
Mashayamombe however, denied being involved or responsible for the February violence that erupted in Hopley, Lot 4.
“I cannot comment on this issue, the people that fought did so of their own accord, and this matter doesn’t involve me.
“The names of the people who fought are there, interview them.
“I do not have any association with the people that fought,” said Mashayamombe.
On February 28 Mashayamombe and Taruva were summoned at Zanu PF headquarters by Joram Gumbo, Mnangagwa’s special advisor, in an effort to remedy the impasse between the two factions.
In a leaked audio of the crunch meeting convened by Gumbo, Mashayamombe insisted he did not allocate Taruva and the other Zanu PF youths the stands branding them as land barons that invaded the stands.
Taruva in the leaked audio insisted the 55 Zanu PF youths were allocated stands by Mashayamombe who was now trying to evict them through illegal evictions and demolitions.
Gumbo, in the meeting fails to remedy the conflict between Mashayamombe and the Zanu PF youths resisting eviction.
Zanu PF information director Farai Marapira condemned the violence and called for a legal resolution, expressing confidence in the police’s ability to handle the situation.
“The president ED Mnangagwa has been very clear on the issue of the need for there to be law abiding of all our citizens regardless of political affiliations or anything along those lines.
“With that in mind we urge whatever situation is happening in Hopley to be resolved in a legal manner, the president is a president for all Zimbabweans.
“We encourage the police to execute their mandate as usual, we have utmost faith in the police and their ability to handle whatever situation or problem which might be occurring in Hopley.
“We are not going to be worried if the matter has been reported to the police, they shall be dealt with within the full armpit of the law and expeditiously as possible as the police always does.
National police spokesperson Paul Nyathi dismissed claims of biased police actions and emphasized that the land dispute’s legal aspects fall under the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms that three suspects were arrested during a public violence incident in relation to stands dispute in Hopely Zone 4, Waterfalls, Harare.
“The suspects are due to appear before the courts. No one has been prematurely released by the Police.
“The issue of land allocation, legal status and ownership is handled by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.
“The parties have been accordingly advised to follow the law or engage the ministry. The Police will only come on board to deal with the maintenance of law and order,” said Nyathi.
Tasting their own medicine Hapana chokuchema apa