Zimbabwean Co-Minister of Home Affairs Theresa Makone has dismissed police claims she tried to obstruct justice by demanding the release of three men accused of trying to shake down a white businessman for corporate equity.
Police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena said late last week that Minister of State for Security Didymus Mutasa, who is attached to the office of President Robert Mugabe, visited two police stations in Harare with Makone demanding the release of his son, Martin, arrested with businessman Temba Mliswa and George Marere.
Makone told VOA Studio 7 reporter Sandra Nyaira that she visited the police stations but insisted allegations she tried to obstruct justice are false. Makone added in an interview that she intends to do her job credibly to make sure all Zimbabweans are treated fairly by police regardless of party affiliation or their station in life.
Martin Mutasa and the other two men are accused of misrepresenting to businessman Paul Westwood that President Mugabe and Youth, Indigenization and Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere had authorized them to take a 50 percent equity stake in his company, Noshio Investments Limited.
Didymus Mutasa has also dismissed the police accusations as "nonsense."
The matter has apparently divided the MDC formation led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai with some saying Makone should be disciplined for teaming up with Mutasa on their round of police stations.
