admin
Police sources said Minister Mangoma addressed villagers gathered for the rally and 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 cooperation” on the minister’s part.
“The delay in bringing him to the police was as a result of lack of cooperation 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 the minister 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 that Minister Mangoma has brushed 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 $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.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter