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Tichaona Chikwana, of V62 Mzilikazi was arrested at the party’s provincial headquarters, Davies Hall, on Thursday afternoon when he allegedly stormed into the premises and started swearing that he wanted to stab Cde Gatsi.
Police spokesperson for Bulawayo Metropolitan Province Assistant Inspector Bekimpilo Ndlovu referred questions to national police spokesperson Superintendent Andrew Phiri who said he had not been updated about the arrest.
“We are aware of the meeting that was at Davies Hall, but we are not aware of any arrests as yet as we have not been updated,” said Supt Phiri.
Provincial party members who were at the venue said Chikwana was overheard swearing that he wanted to stab Cde Gatsi.
He was allegedly heard calling the youth leader’s name demanding that he comes out of the hall because he wanted to stab him.
The meeting, which was being attended by provincial executive council members was in progress as the events were unfolding outside.
The party members then alerted the police who searched Chikwana on the scene and recovered an Okapi knife in the pocket of his pair of trousers.
It could not readily be established why Chikwana wanted to stab Cde Gatsi.
Other party members said they were shocked by the suspect’s behaviour.
“The meeting was going on when some people started making noise outside the offices. The suspect was heard saying that he wanted to stab the youth chairman and people were terrified. He attempted to go inside the building but later decided to call Cde Gatsi outside, saying he wanted to stab him,” said a party member.
Acting provincial chairman Cde Killian Sibanda confirmed that a group of drunken youths had attempted to disrupt the meeting but their efforts were thwarted by the party members.
“We were at a provincial executive council meeting when a group of drunken youths tried to disrupt proceedings. We do not know who had sent them but their efforts failed because we managed to move them out of the premises. One of them wanted to stab Cde Gatsi and was arrested by police and the meeting progressed well thereafter as we resolved a number of issues,” said Cde Sibanda.
Contacted for comment, Cde Gatsi said he was not moved by the threats as he knew they were being fuelled by his opponents.
“I know him as a youth member but not from the local district. He is a graduate of the National Youth Service. We were in a meeting yesterday when we heard some noise coming from outside the hall. Other party members apprehended him as he tried to get into the hall. Those who were outside said he was heard saying phuma phandle ngifuna ukukugwaza (Butho come out I will stab you today.) Party members alerted the police who searched him and he was found with the knife in his pockets,” said Cde Gatsi.
Cde Gatsi was recently reportedly suspended by the party’s national youth league, a development, which later turned to be a non-event according to senior party officials.
Chikwana was dragged to the Bulawayo magistrates’ court yesterday morning but the case was not set down for hearing.
The docket was referred back to the police station for recording of witnesses’ statements.
Scores of people had turned up for the court session.
Online Reporter