Harare – Despite the fact that everybody knows he lives and works in the UK,
the Zimbabwe Republic police and the much-despised CIO have jointly
launched a man hunt for the Editor of The Zimbabwean Newspaper, Wilf
Mbanga. According to state television news last night, they are accusing
him of publishing a story after the 2008 elections “which undermined
President Robert Mugabe”.
ZBC reported that the police want to interrogate Mbanga over an article
published in The Zimbabwean about the death in highly suspicious
circumstances of the late Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Director for
Polling, Ignatius Mushangwe.
ZBC says: “Superintendent An drew Phiri said the police have issued a
warrant of arrest to (sic) Mbanga for publishing a story alleging that
the late ZEC Director for Polling, Ignatius Mushangwe, was murdered after
allegedly leaking the Presidential results for the March 29 2008
elections. In the report Mbanga claimed there was a meeting attended by
President Mugabe, Emerson Munangagwa and CIO Boss Happyton Bonyongwe, and
former ZEC chairperson George Chiweshe among other ZEC officials with an
agenda to eliminate Mushangwe.
“Chief Superintendent Phiri said police investigations have revealed that
the was no such a meeting, adding that the news report was unfounded,
misguided and was meant to tarnish the image of the President.Police
believe Mbanga is staying in the UK.”
Mushangwe went missing during the run-up to the violent June 27 election
run-off. His body was discovered by relatives in a mortuary in Norton five
months after his disappearance.
Authoritative sources told journalists at that time that Mushangwe went
missing on June 10 after attending a heated meeting of the multi-party
liaison committee that comprised Zanu PF, MDC, police and the army.
“This is a ridiculous waste of manpower and resources,” said Mbanga from the
UK. “I have lived here for six years and have been in telephone contact with
the police PR department on numerous occasions seeking confirmation of
stories. Instead of launching a manhunt for me in Zimbabwe, to soothe those
egos I might have bruised, the ZRP would best serve the nation by hunting
for the murderers of Mushangwe and others who have paid the ultimate price
for democracy in our country. When can we expect ZRP to issue warrants of
arrest for those who killed more than 200 people during the 2008 election
period?”