A patriotic invasion: Chipangano leader

Zanu (PF) Harare Province youth leader, Jim Kunaka, on Thursday told the court how he led a group of party supporters in Mbare to block the construction of a service station and food court by Harare businessman, Alex Mashamhanda, claiming the move was driven by “patriotism”.

im  Kunaka
im Kunaka

Kunaka made the revelations in an ongoing case in which two Mashwede Diesel employees are facing bribery charges. They allegedly attempted to give Kunaka $5 000 so that he would use his influence in Mbare to stop residents from blocking the construction of the service station and food court near Matapi police station.

Kunaka claims that he reported the case to the police after which a trap was set and the Mashwede Diesel employees, identified as Isheanesu Maribha (34) and Gwezuva Changamire (35), were apprehended at a local hotel when they gave the money to him.

During cross examination, Kunaka admitted that he led a demonstration by a group of Zanu (PF) supporters who were protesting against Mashamhanda’s project.

The youths claimed the project was not going to benefit Zanu (PF) youths since Mashamhanda was an MDC-T member.

“We have what is called patriotism. We even went to report the case to the Environmental Management Agency who came and said constructing the service station at the area would put people’s lives in danger as the area was not suitable for construction purposes,” said Kunaka.

Kunaka however denied his earlier claims that he had approached the Office of the President on the matter and was later on referred to the CID Law and Order Section.

“The person who recorded that statement made a mistake and I signed it not knowing that it was mistakenly written,” Kunaka said.

Harare Magistrate Nomsa Sabarauta postponed the case to 22 November.

Post published in: News
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  1. Peter Macklyn

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