adminsupporters in Harare. But police dismissed the claim, saying Machingauta was arrested for assaulting five Zanu-PF members with the help of a group of his fellow party members who vanished from their known addresses when police looked for them.
“The correct facts are that on the 9th of July and at Current shopping centre in Budiriro, Coaster Machingauta who was in the company of MDC-T supporters was driving a pick-up truck written Jomic with MDC-T posters pasted all over its body,” chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said.
“Machingauta and his group approached Zanu-PF supporters namely Mupariwa Muzawazi, Anna Tavengwa, Margaret Majengwa and assaulted them. The complainants sought shelter at Zanu-PF offices at the shopping centre.”
Snr Asst Comm Charamba said Machingauta and his group also assaulted Lucia Mangeya and Elizabeth Purazi on the same day while travelling in a convoy of cars.
She said Machingauta was arrested that afternoon in Budiriro.
“There is no report made to the police regarding the alleged shooting of the Jomic vehicle,” said Snr Asst Comm Charamba.
“The wheel which is being purported to have been shot is not showing any signs consistent with bullet marks. It is apparent that the MDC-T stage-managed the alleged shooting of the vehicle.
“The fact remains that Coaster Machingauta who now claims to be a complainant is an accused person arrested for assaulting the five complainants.”
Mr Biti alleged at the Press conference that his party was being forced into an “illegal” election by the Constitutional Court and had since written to Sadc facilitator and South African president Jacob Zuma over the issue.
“We think it is important for Sadc to meet, review the situation and make a pronouncement on whether or not it is still possible to have a legal, legitimate and credible election,” he said.
“We hope that meeting will be held soon with Sadc giving us the venue and date. I have already written to the Sadc facilitation team raising these concerns.”
Sadc has stated that it respects court rulings made in any member state and would stand by the dates given by the Constitutional Court that Zimbabwe should hold elections on July 31. The regional bloc, at an extra ordinary summit of Heads of State and Governments in Maputo last month had urged Justice and Legal Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa to seek an extension of the poll deadline to accommodate MDC formations’ proposed reforms.
The Constitutional Court threw out the application and ruled that elections should go ahead as scheduled. But Mr Biti surprised the journalists when he said Minister Chinamasa did not make any application at the Constitutional Court.
“The security sector has not, as directed by Sadc, issued out a statement restating their commitment to respecting the Constitution and maintaining law and order during the elections,” he said.
“They have not yet signed a code of conduct that regulates their behaviour and there are still some legislative reforms to be done to align the Electoral Act with the new Constitution.”
The amendments to the Electoral Act were, however, debated and agreed by Cabinet before President Mugabe gazetted them using the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) Act.
Online Reporter