|
Zanu PF wants me dead, says Muzembi
THE newly-elected Masvingo Member of Parliament, Walter Muzembi says some Zanu PF members in Masvingo want him dead. Muzembi surprised mourners gathered at the funeral of the late freelance photographer, Lucky Hakata at Grenville cemetery in Harare on Saturday when he said the Pajero that Hakata was travelling in with four others had been shot at by Zanu PF members opposed to his election. Hakata, a Harare-based sports photographer was travelling in the car, owned by Muzembi, to Harare when it rolled over several times at the 109 km peg between Featherstone and Munyati on Thursday afternoon and died on the spot. His body was taken to Chivhu hospital for a post mortem. The others in the car sustained serious injuries and were admitted at Chivhu hospital. Without mincing his words, Muzembi, whose election surprised many people as he was on suspension from the ruling party, said the people who fired shots at his Pajero thought that he (Muzembi) was in the car as it was the same vehicle that he had been using during his campaign in Masvingo province. "The people who shot at my car wanted to kill me. Hakata was sitting in the back seat of the car where I used to sit during my campaigns. I am very sorry for the Hakata family for what happened," said Muzembi, who offered to foot the bill including buying the casket. A policeman from Chivhu who attended the burial of Hakata confirmed that Muzembi's car had been shot several times. Muzembi's public announcement was filmed by a Zimbabwe Television crew which covered Hakata's burial but the clip was not screened when the story was aired on Saturday night. The Masvingo South constituency fell vacant after the death two months ago of Zanu PF long standing member and former cabinet minister Eddison Zvobgo. The two Zanu PF factions in Masvingo, the one loyal to the late vice President Simon Muzenda and the one loyal to the late Zvobgo had been vying for the Masvingo South seat when it fell vacant following Zvobgo's death. The Masvingo Zanu PF provincial executive, led by Daniel Shumba announced that Muzembi, who belongs to the Zvobgo faction, had been elected unopposed after all those within the party who had been contesting stepped down. It is not clear whether they were coerced into stepping down or did so of their own volition. Attempts to get a comment from Zanu PF were in vain. Posted by: Fred 2004-10-18 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=46335 |