GPA parties disown Chipangano

Jomic Harare Provincial Liaison Committee representing three political parties, Zanu-PF and the two MDC formations described Chipangano as a criminal gang at a Press conference in Harare yesterday.
Jomic carried out investigations into the operations of Chipangano following reports from some sections of the media and the general public.

“Consequently, we as chairmen of the Harare province, representing the three political parties in the Government of National Unity, hereby denounce Chipangano as a criminal gang, which is not affiliated to any of the political parties represented in Jomic,” Mr Trynos Mgutshini (MDC) said flanked by his two co-chairpersons Cde Amos Midzi (Zanu-PF) and Mr Paul Madzore (MDC-T).

Mr Mgutshini said Chipangano was allegedly terrorising people going about their business and sometimes extorted vendors who run markets at Mbare claiming it was “protection fee.”
The group, Mr Mgutshini said, was said to be affiliated to Zanu-PF and that it beats up supporters of other political parties.
“Zanu-PF has made it clear that its structures are well established and they don’t include Chipangano,” he said.

The committee warned Chipangano and urged police to arrest them.
“We want to reinforce the message of peace preached by our political leaders and tell members of Chipangano, whoever they are, that their time is up,” Mr Mgutshini said.

The committee urged the public to report any criminal activities by the group and the police to nab them.
“We urge the police to do their work without fear or favour. We believe there is no one above the law in this country,” he said.
The committee appealed to the media to report accurately on the situation in Zimbabwe to avoid fuelling polarisation.

“They should be able to make a difference where the dispute is personal, political or an economic issue,” Mr Mgutshini said.
“We are all Zimbabweans and we believe we can co-exist even with our political differences. We appeal to the media and the general public to help us in our endeavour to build a peaceful and prosperous Zimbabwe.”
Jomic was established under the Global Political Agreement to monitor compliance with, and progress on items agreed on within the agreement that gave birth to the inclusive government.