Chinotimba witchcraft plot: pair in court
by: Ntungamili Nkomo
THE long-standing power struggles in Zanu PF assumed an awful trajectory on Tuesday when two party officials appeared in court accused of plotting to “assassinate” rival party contenders using WITCHCRAFT.
Among the alleged targets was politburo member Kumbirai Kangai and war veterans leader Joseph Chinotimba.
The suspects, Zvenyika Machokoto and Judith Muodzeri, believed to be husband and wife aspiring for higher political office, appeared before a Mutare magistrate and charged with “conspiracy to engage in practices of witchcraft” under the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
They were remanded to February 16 on US$50 bail each.
The court heard that sometime last week, the two allegedly consulted a self-styled prophet, Jimmy Motsi, in Bindura district and asked him to concoct witchcraft-induced methods to kill their Zanu PF rivals whom they accused of thwarting their rise through the party’s ranks.
On the couple’s hit list were Kangai, Chinotimba, Buhera North Member of Parliament William Mutomba, Tapiwa Zengeya, Kenneth Madziturira and Saul Tsuma - all senior Zanu PF members in Buhera district.
If the “assassination” plot succeeded, the court heard, the two would stand a better chance of campaigning to represent Zanu PF in the parliamentary and senate elections widely expected this year. In turn, they promised to pay the prophet handsomely.
Reports of Zanu PF officials seeking help from traditional or spiritual leaders is nothing new. Their gullibility was exposed in 2008 when they were duped by a female school drop-out posing as a n’anga to believe she could extract refined petroleum from rocks.
Gordon Chavunduka, the president of the 50,000-member Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers’ Association (ZINATHA), blamed the Bindura incident on lack of internal democracy within Zanu PF.
Chavunduka told the Voice of America's Studio 7 on Tuesday that the lack of succession debate in Zanu PF was encouraging witchcraft within the party.
“I agree yes, any situation like that would create witchcraft to those who believe in it,” he said.
Under Zimbabwean law, witchcraft is a criminal offense punishable by a fine or a five-year jail term.
White people must be bewitched and there is a local panacea for the ailing rand.
This was the talk on Friday at the Greater KwaDukuza ANC march on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast in defence of President Jacob Zuma.
“We do not care about the sick rand. It will recover. There’s a cure for it. The cure for the rand is the boy from Siqumbe [Malusi Gigaba]‚” said Greater KwaDukuza ANC Youth League chair Mfanafuthi Ngcobo when he addressed about 400 ANC marchers outside the Ballito Junction mall.
New Finance Minister Gigaba is from the same region‚ in Siqumbe‚ Mandeni.
Regional ANC secretary Thabani Mdlalose called for the en masse bewitching of white people.
“Let’s stop bewitching each other as black people‚ let’s start bewitching white people and change things so that more of our people can be employed."
Mdlalose said it was unfortunate that the people who are calling for Zuma’s head are not the ones that elected him in Mangaung in December 2012.
Although the march was relatively peaceful‚ it was the quick thinking of Ilembe cluster commander Major General Mandlenkosi Chirwa who averted a potential confrontational in Ballito between Democratic Alliance and ANC supporters.
Chirwa had ensured that the marches do not clash by starting the DA-led march in Ballito at 9am‚ while the ANC was gathering at Shaka’s Head 5km away. By the time the ANC arrived in Ballito at 12pm‚ the DA had gone.
Chirwa‚ who received the ANC’s memorandum of grievances‚ thanked them for their behaviour and conduct.
“I hope all your issues will be received and answered in line with the constitution of the republic‚” he said amid heckling.
Earlier on‚ the crowd had threatened to loot a local KFC outlet prompting police to barricade the area with vehicles.