ZANU PF has expressed fears that Gokwe-Nembudziya legislator Justice Mayor Wadyajena’s US$5.8 million fraud charge may cost the ruling party in a by-election that is being held this Saturday in Gokwe-Kabuyuni.
The Gokwe-Kabuyuni seat fell vacant after the death of ZANU PF legislator Leonard Chikomba in a car accident in Chitekete early this year.
The by-election is a two-horse race pitting ZANU PF’s Spencer Tshuma (42) and former MDC MP for the constituency Costin Muguti (52), who is running on a CCC ticket.
Addressing a Press conference in Harare on Friday, ZANU PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa indirectly mentioned the Wadyajena saga as a possible stumbling block. He said:
… always accepting some of the shortcomings and correcting them like what’s happening now in Cottco is what the government is working on and it has a bearing on voters, especially in that area.
We need Cottco to be properly run as a business entity so that people who farm are paid in time and their money doesn’t depreciate.
Our teams are busy on the ground. The politburo appealed to the people in Gokwe to campaign and vote quietly.
We want the people of Kabuyuni to vote peacefully and decide who they want to represent them.
Wadyajena faces fraud and money-laundering charges involving US$5.8 million.
He is charged alongside his alleged accomplices, namely Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (COTTCO) managing director Pious Manamike, marketing manager Maxmore Njanji, Fortunate Molai also of Cottco and Chiedza Danha, director for Pierpont Moncroix Mauritius.
They were granted $200 000 bail each last week and remanded to 8 September 2022.
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