Businessman and chairperson of the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ), Tafadzwa Musarara has sought to clear the air on events leading to the looting of his 30 tonnes of flour and mealie meal in the run-up to the Zanu PF primary elections saying the crime has nothing to do with politics.
Responding to the lawyer representing the two accomplices of Zanu PF Mashonaland Central chairperson, Kazembe Kazembe during a cross examination exercise at the Bindura Magistrates Court on Tuesday, Musarara denied leading a rival camp against the eventual winner of primary polls adding that looted goods were meant for his campaigning team not for vote buying.
“The goods which were stolen worth US$12.000 but the police only recovered goods worth US$800 and the stolen goods costs about US$10 955.
“l need five or more people to be arrested because l had about 1800 people and the food staff were supposed to be given to my campaign team.
“As a candidate l wanted to thank my own team for campaigning and it was not for vote buying,” said Musarara.
He refuted claims that he led a rival camp against Kazembe, citing President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s repeated calls for peace in the country.
“It is not a crime to give those in need and your team during campaigning so when l had people saying l was doing vote buying is very wrong.
“Besides that, within or outside ZANU PF party, it is wrong to take someone’s property by force that will be considered as a crime. We do not have camps within ZANU PF, our leader always preach the message of peace everyday but this was against that,we are one party.
“We have put enough evidence that the crime was committed, we are here to seek justice and l don’t see where politics comes in.
“When you steal from another party member it’s regarded as a crime not intraparty violence,” added Musarara.
Meanwhile, the accused will have a chance to defend their case on the 9th of July.