Former Member of Parliament for the Mabvuku-Tafara constituency, Munyaradzi Febion Kufahakutizwi, who was recently recalled by self-imposed CCC interim secretary general Sengezo Tshabangu, made an appearance in court yesterday, facing charges of malicious damage to property and assault.
It is alleged that Kufahakutizwi damaged a vehicle in Mabvuku and assaulted a member of the ruling Zanu PF party at a funeral.
Represented by his lawyer, Mr. Garikayi Mhishi, Kufahakutizwi was remanded out of custody until January 23 by Magistrate Mrs Ethel Chichera.
According to the State’s allegations, on November 21, Mr Patrick Chitemba authorized Mr Douglas Matadi, the national administration officer of Pastors in Action 4ED, to use his Toyota Hiace for campaign purposes in the by-elections for the Zanu PF National Assembly candidate, Cde Pedzai Sakupwanya, in the Mabvuku-Tafara constituency. However, the by-elections did not take place as Kufahakutizwi had been recalled, leaving Cde Sakupwanya as the sole candidate who was declared elected without a poll.
On the aforementioned date, at around 1 pm, while Mr Chitemba and his colleagues were parked at Kamunhu Shopping Centre in Mabvuku, Kufahakutizwi and his unidentified accomplices approached them in a yellow and black Toyota Baby Quantum, blocking Mr Chitemba’s vehicle. Four men from Kufahakutizwi’s vehicle forcefully opened Mr Chitemba’s car doors and demanded to see Morgan Mupfurutsa.
Allegedly seated in the back of the Toyota Hiace, Kufahakutizwi instructed his accomplices to damage Mr Chitemba’s vehicle, reportedly saying, “Aya mapastors for ED ngavazive zvevhangeri chete, pwanyai mota iyoyo.”
Following his command, the accomplices struck the rear passenger window with wooden sticks, causing it to shatter, before swiftly leaving the scene. The damage inflicted on the vehicle is estimated at US$370.
In addition to the charge of malicious damage to property, Kufahakutizwi also faces an assault charge. It is alleged that on November 18, around 2 pm, in Mabvuku, an altercation occurred during a funeral opposite Mr Michael Nyasulu’s residence. Mr Nyasulu had asked mourners who were sitting in his garden to move away, resulting in a confrontation. Later, when Mr Nyasulu returned to his house after visiting a nearby beer hall, an individual at the funeral noticed he was wearing a Zanu PF cap.
At this point, Kufahakutizwi approached Mr Nyasulu, grabbed him by the collar, and punched him, accusing him of throwing stones at the mourners.
