Minister Mangoma arrested again

after a warned-and-cautioned statement was recorded from him.

Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed the arrest, saying Minister Mangoma allegedly undermined the authority of the

President at an MDC-T rally on May 18 this year at Manhenga Business Centre in Bindura.

“I can confirm that he (Mangoma) was picked up for questioning in connection with a case of contravening Section 33 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (undermining the authority of or insulting the President) at a rally,” she said.

Sources said the minister chanted a slogan saying:
“Chifa Mugabe Chifa, Chibva Mugabe Chibva (Die Mugabe Die, Go Mugabe Go).”
Asst Comm Charamba said the delay in arresting Minister Mangoma was caused by “lack of co-operation” on the minister’s part.
“The delay in bringing him to the police was as a result of lack of co-operation on his side despite numerous efforts by police requesting him to report to Bindura police. He did not go,” she said.

Asst Comm Charamba said police would not hesitate to arrest anyone suspected of breaking the law despite his or her status.
“No one is above the law, and any offender will be brought to book. All citizens need to be familiar with the laws of the country,” she said.
Minister Mangoma’s lawyer Ms Beat­rice Mtetwa said police had recorded a warned-and-cautioned statement from her client before releasing him.

“I am told the actual words he said were ‘Tshisa Mugabe Tshisa, ‘Chibva Mugabe Chibva’. They have questioned him and said they will call him when­ever they need him.

“When he was arrested, we were told that we were going to Bindura, but on our way there, police told us that they had been instructed to take us to Harare Central Police Station,” she said.
In a statement yesterday, the MDC-T said Minister Mangoma was being “persecuted” for no reason.

“The MDC condemns all this perse­cution by the State and non-State oper­atives at the instigation of Zanu-PF and stands with all the foot soldiers of a new democratic Zimbabwe,” read part of the statement.

This is not the first time Minister Mangoma has had a brush with the law, having been arrested in March last year on allegations of criminal abuse of office after he ordered officers in his ministry to buy fuel without follow­ing tender procedures.
He allegedly used his position to influence the selection of NOOA Petro­leum to supply five million litres of fuel this year.

The fuel has not been delivered to date despite Government paying US$4,4 million.
A few months later, Minister Man­goma was again arrested for flouting Government tender procedures for pre­paid meters.
He was, however, later acquitted.