HARARE – Opposition Transform Zimbabwe leader and anti-corruption activist Jacob Ngarivhume has revealed a startling allegation that a prosecutor confessed to him that he is being targeted for his fight against rampant corruption in government.
Ngarivhume, who was scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, in his New Year’s message, delivered through prominent journalist Hopewell Chin’ono’s Facebook page, has claimed the prosecutor told him that as long as he continues to speak out against corruption, he will remain a target.
Ngarivhume, alongside his co-accused, Bishop Kevin Gonde, were arrested in August 2024 on charges related to participating in a gathering with the intent to promote public violence and disorderly conduct.
They face charges of throwing stones at police during a meeting organized by Jameson Timba in Avondale. However, Ngarivhume claims these charges are false and that he never attended the meeting.
He claims the charges are false and politically motivated. According to Ngarivhume, the prosecutor’s alleged admission confirms his suspicions that his persecution is a result of his anti-corruption efforts.
“I hope and wish the best for people who are so much pressed from all corners. May the good Lord give us all peace and prosperity in 2025 going forward,” Ngarivhume stated.
“I am back at Rotten Row Magistrates court tomorrow, 9 January 2025, at 9AM, to be precise. Tomorrow is supposed to be the beginning of our trial, together with my co accused Kevin Gonde.
“I only got to know this Bishop when we were arrested back in August 2024. Before then, we had never met, talked, or interacted. This false charge brought us together for the first time!
“On the charge sheet, the lying police allege that we threw stones at the police together in Avondale at a meeting organised by Jameson Timba.
“Again, for a long, long time, l had not been in a common place with Timba since 2018 when l only met him once when he was Morgan Tsvangirai runner for alliance talks.
“I had to meet him for the first time in many, many years at Harare Remand before I was moved to Chikurubi max prison.
“One prosecutor at the magistrates court told me in confidence at the end of last year that VaNgarivhume the reason you are back here is because the authorities right at the top are very uncomfortable about your fight against corruption.
“As long as you are fighting corruption, you will continue to be ‘our client here’. He went on to tell me that when l want all this to end, shut up your mouth about corruption.
“I was angry when he told me that. He in fact told me plainly that they all know l was not at the Timba meeting, which he confided to me that in any case there was no offence to be at that meeting.
“The gentleman confirmed what we all know that at the magistrates court, when it comes to political matters, they work on instruction period.
“It is never about the evidence at hand nor facts presented by the lawyers. It is all about the instruction they receive from the political offices.”
Ngarivhume was detained for 82 days before being released on bail in October 2024. The High Court overturned a previous decision denying him bail, ruling that he would not pose a threat to public safety.
Ngarivhume’s case is widely criticised as being part of a crackdown on political dissent.
