Soldiers join Zanu PF factional wars

Politics
THREE soldiers are in trouble for allegedly stoning the house of Raphael Machaya following an intense misunderstanding over Zanu PF primary elections on June 2

THREE soldiers are in trouble for allegedly stoning the house of Raphael Machaya following an intense misunderstanding over Zanu PF primary elections on June 27. BLESSED MHLANGA STAFF REPORTER

Langton Million (20), Bornwell Sibanda (20) and Obey Mabasa (25) on Monday appeared at the Kwekwe Magistrates’ Court together with Kudakwashe Chimbe (18) facing allegations of malicious damage to property belonging to Machaya.

The court heard that the four, who were backing the candidature of Vongai Mpereri in the Zanu PF primary elections, were not happy when Machaya together with a group of youths, who included Tichaona Chacha, stormed Chana Primary School during the primary elections and attempted to get away with ballot papers before being caught.

The soldiers who were at Chana then met Machaya at a funeral two days later and an argument arose over the incident resulting in a heated exchange.

The State alleges that Machaya, who was in the company of Chacha, then left the funeral and went to his house, but Million, Sibanda, Mabasa and Chimbe followed them.

It is the State’s case that the soldiers and their civilian friend scaled the wall and started hurling stones at Machaya’s house while he was holed up inside with Chacha, breaking windows and asbestos sheets worth $160.

Chacha was temporarily released from police custody yesterday following his arrest on Sunday for attempting to soil ballot papers in the Zanu PF Midlands provincial elections, to testify as a witness in the case.

Machaya told the court that the attack was because of bad blood between them stemming from the Zanu PF primary elections fought along factional lines, although he did not elaborate on the factions claim.

Machaya and Chacha are among a few youths in the party in Kwekwe who have openly aligned themselves to a Zanu PF faction allegedly sympathetic to Vice-President Joice Mujuru in the battle to succeed President Robert Mugabe.

The Mujuru faction has been contending with a faction loyal to Justice minister and politburo strongman Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Both Mnangagwa and Mujuru have publicly denied the existence of these factions.

The matter continues today.

Vimbai Chinoda prosecuted.