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Sacked VP Mnangagwa Linked to Zimbabwe Local Terror Group


Former Zimbabwe Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Former Zimbabwe Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The ruling Zanu PF party claims that former Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa sponsored a terror group in the Midlands province known as al-Shabbab in tackling opponents.

According to the state-controlled media, the Zanu PF Midlands provincial coordinating committee made the claims at a meeting convened soon after Mnangagwa was expelled from the ruling party for allegedly undermining the authority of the president and disloyalty.

The allegations are being made at a time Mnangagwa is in South Africa where he might seek political asylum.

He left the country in a huff a few day ago claiming that his life is in danger.

He has vowed to return to Zimbabwe to unseat President Mugabe, who has been in power for more than 37 years.

The state media reports that police are compiling a docket to charge Mnangagwa with various crimes, including fanning violence and alleged corruption.

In another development, 22 foreigners have been arrested in Chiadzwa in Manicaland province for allegedly contravening the Protected Areas Act after they reportedly entered a prohibited place without authority.

According to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), they include some Brazilians, South Africans, Ugandans, Swazis, Zambians and Kenyans, who were reportedly attending commemorations of Operation Hakudzokwe on a learning visit.

ZLHR lawyers David Tandiri and Passmore Nyakureba are offering emergency legal support services to those arrested.

Police were not reacheable for comment.

Chiadzwa villagers, who suffered in the hands of security forces during Operation Hakudzokwe, have told how police officers ran motorbikes on top of their victims while others were beaten to death.

Zimbabwe deployed the national army to crack down against people that were looking for diamonds in 2008. A large number of people were killed by the army.

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