Mutinhiri, who is also Deputy Minister Labour and Social Welfare, told the startled operatives that she suspected they would dump her body into nearby Wenimbe Dam “like they did to hundreds of innocent suspected MDC supporters June 2008”.
She was addressing traditional leaders, teachers and villagers at a development meeting at Dhirihori Secondary School when two uninvited spy agents forced their way into the gathering. They took seats at the top table and started taking notes.
The headmaster introduced them as officials from the president’s office, after a local MDC-T councillor, Samuel Machekanyanga, demanded to know their identities.
“Young men, I know you have been tracking me down for quite some time now. Why do you want to kill me? Who assigned you to assassinate me? If you succeed to eliminate me do you intend dumping my dead body in Wenimbe Dam or at a disused mine shaft at Acturus Mine? Record as much of my speech as is possible and make a good feed back to your masters,” the feisty Mutinhiri told the visibly embarrassed agents.
She told them that two months ago CIO agents had made an attempt at her life when she distributed seed chickens to 150 families in the constituency.
Machekanyanga told the meeting. “What the honourable minister has said is the truth. The CIO views political parties rivalling Zanu (PF) as a threat to state security. What dangerous ignorance.”
After the meeting, shocked and angry traditional leaders asked Machekanyanga the significance of the CIO presence at a low level village development gathering.
“As traditional leaders we are shocked at Mugabe’s paranoid and open mistrust of his own ministers and poor villagers. How could a self respecting security agency waste scarce fuel and other government resources to monitor legitimate activities of innocent peasants in remote rural areas?” they said.
It is popular belief that Zanu (PF) senator for Marondera-Wedza, Sydney Sekeramayi and CIO planted informers to monitor MDC activities in the constituency. Spies such as female Dhirihori Secondary School teacher Musanhu and a local businessman known as Baby Shower, allegedly spy on villagers’ activities and provide ‘intelligence’ information. One traditional leader alleged that they receive monthly groceries from Sekeramayi and are on the CIO pay-roll.
Mutinhiri made enemies within the former ruling party following her open criticism of Zanu (PF) torture bases around the country and victimisation of perceived political opponents.
Post published in: News