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Tendai Rupapa Harare Bureau
A 20-YEAR-OLD University of Zimbabwe student appeared in court yesterday charged with attempting to subvert a constitutionally-elected government, attempting to commit an act of insurgency, banditry, sabotage or terrorism.Prosecutors say Romeo Tanyaradzwa Musemburi, a third-year Economics student, sent an e-mail to the shadowy Facebook character, Baba Jukwa, soliciting for guns to start a war “fighting for democracy.”
He allegedly sent the e-mail to Baba Jukwa’s Gmail account, which was hacked and all its contents passed onto the military and police. In it, he tells Baba Jukwa: “We want pfuti (guns), give us and we will hit the streets and fight for democracy.”
Musemburi, the third individual to be arrested over Baba Jukwa following the arrest of the Sunday Mail Editor Edmund Kudzayi and his brother, Phillip, told a Harare magistrate that he could not disclose some information to the police because of fear.
When asked by magistrate, Vakayi Chikwekwe, if he had any complaints against the police, Musemburi said: “I felt threatened during investigations such that I could not say certain things.”
Chikwekwe rephrased his question, explaining to Musemburi that he was trying to establish if he had been assaulted or denied food while in police custody, to which he said he had none.
Chikwekwe advised him that the charges he was facing were serious and only the High Court had jurisdiction to entertain his bail application.
He was remanded in custody to July 16 for routine remand.
If convicted, the student faces life in prison.
Harare lawyer Tonderai Bhatasara is acting on his behalf.
Appearing for the State, Michael Reza alleged that on August 3 last year, Musemburi, of Waterfalls in Harare, wrote an email to Baba Jukwa requesting for weapons.
He sent the email through his Gmail account [email protected].
According to the State, Musemburi was planning to commit an act of insurgency, banditry, sabotage and terrorism with a view to overthrowing the government through unconstitutional means.
Meanwhile, the High Court will today hear bail arguments in the case against Edmund Kudzayi, who is additionally facing charges of undermining the authority of the President and keeping ammunition in an unsecured place.
derick.khumalo