A Harare man, Felix Togaraseyi Magureyi (40), found himself back in court this week after a second attempt to force entry into State House, demanding to see President Emmerson Mnangagwa. This incident, which occurred just two days before Christmas, mirrors a similar incident earlier this year, raising serious security concerns.
Magureyi appeared at the Harare Magistrates Court on Tuesday, facing a charge of trespassing. The court heard that on December 23rd, at approximately 1 PM, Magureyi arrived at State House driving a Toyota Hilux Raider, registration number AFU 0592. He parked at the visitor’s entrance and confronted police officers, demanding an audience with President Mnangagwa. The reason for his request remains unstated in court documents.
The accused allegedly overpowered a police officer, forcing his way onto the State House premises before being apprehended. The State presented evidence indicating that multiple witnesses saw Magureyi committing the offence. Furthermore, video footage of the incident was captured and will be used as evidence in court.
This was not Magureyi’s first attempt to gain access to State House. On May 7th of this year, he was arrested for a similar incident. On that occasion, he also arrived at State House in the same vehicle, approached a police officer at the entrance, and demanded to see President Mnangagwa, claiming the President was his father. A search of his vehicle after that May arrest revealed a concerning array of items: an unknown pistol magazine, four rounds of ammunition, one hand-held Boafeng communication radio, a burnt bulb extract, a bunch of keys, a sjambok, and a toy firearm.
Magistrate Judith Taruvinga ordered that Magureyi undergo a psychiatric evaluation by two medical doctors to assess his mental state. This evaluation will be crucial in determining the appropriate course of legal action and understanding the motivations behind his actions. He was remanded in custody until January 7th, 2025.
This incident is not an isolated occurrence. In 2021, a Shamva man was arrested for trespassing at State House, claiming he needed to speak to the President about a dream. The same year also saw two Harare men attempting to enter State House, posing as Central Intelligence Organisation officers. In 2020, a 44-year-old Harare man, dressed in military attire, also demanded an audience with President Mnangagwa.
These repeated attempts to breach State House security highlight the need for a thorough review of security protocols. The ease with which individuals have managed to gain access to the presidential residence raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of current measures. While the motivations behind these actions vary – from alleged familial connections to dreams and even impersonation – the common thread is the successful circumvention of security.
