SW Radio Africa news - The Independent Voice of Zimbabwe
Bikita West MP Munyaradzi Kereke has claimed that he was last year attacked by thugs who said they had been sent by Vice President Joice Mujuru and retired Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono, to murder him. The controversial legislator made these allegations in a letter to Mujuru which was published in the Daily News Friday. It was not clear if the letter, which was also copied to President Mugabe, has already been served on Mujuru. In the letter Kereke claims that on November 30th last year towards mid night, he was ‘violently attacked’ by three men, two of whom were armed with AK 47 rifles. According to Kereke one of the men ‘uttered suggestive words’ to the effect that the three were acting on Gono and Mujuru’s orders. Kereke says he was then hit with the back of the rifle and told that he would not live for the next six days. On realizing that there were cars approaching, the would-be assassins then sped away, Kereke claims. According to the letter, Kereke reported the incident at the Harare Central Police Station. The Bikita legislator also accuses Mujuru of allegedly running a ‘virtual kangaroo court’ wherein he was tried and found guilty of raping a minor four years ago. Kereke claims that he has minutes of a meeting in which Mujuru summoned the local chiefs and the father of the minor to attend this ‘court.’ By holding this meeting over a matter which is in the hands of the police, Mujuru was in ‘extreme breach’ of the Constitution, Kereke claims. The MP further claims that Mujuru’s ally, David Butau, tried to extort cash from him ‘so he could help diffuse the rape allegations.’ For the past two years Kereke has been fighting allegations that he raped an 11 year old female relative who was under his custody. Francis Maramwidze, the guardian of the alleged rape victim, is seeking Kereke’s prosecution. The ZBC reported Thursday that the High Court postponed the case after Kereke indicated that he wants to supply further facts for his defence. Kereke has also asked the Constitutional Court to stop his prosecution on grounds that there is no evidence that he committed the crime. In the letter to Mujuru the controversial economist also accuses ‘powerful individuals’ of targeting him. Kereke has been in the news for most of the last two years making allegations against many people including Gono and former Finance Minister Tendai Biti whom he accuses of graft. SW Radio Africa correspondent Simon Muchemwa said few are inclined to believe Kereke’s latest claim of death threats, because he is known for being an ‘attention seeker.’ Muchemwa added: ‘Kereke talks too much. He accuses everybody and in the process he has offended everybody. So anyone can seek to harm him and not just Mujuru as he claims. At the same time he has made himself a clown.’