Published: 06 September 2018

Zanu-PF Mutare North House of Assembly representative Michael Madiro has described losing National Patriotic Front (NPF) candidate, Mr Agrippa Bopela Masiyakurima's High Court petition challenging his victory as a mere waste of time, saying he had no tangible evidence.

Madiro, who is also Zanu-PF's Manicaland provincial chairman, expressed confidence that he would win the court case since he never participated in electoral fraud as alleged by Masiyakurima.

Mr Masiyakurima is alleging that Madiro intimidated voters and that he perpetrated violence during the voting period. He also alleges that Madiro manipulated results as the figures of the final results announced by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) did not tally.

"We have replied to the court application, which was filed by Bopela challenging my victory in Mutare North," said Madiro.

"They do not have primary evidence. They do not have V11 forms. He is alleging that my agents were intimidating people in Mutare North. Mukodza and Mawanga were not my agents.

"In fact, Mawanga was also contesting as a councillor, which clearly shows what a man who lies does. At law, there is no case since I was not the one who was doing what he alleges."

Madiro dismissed as false allegations by Mr Masiyakurima that he "posed and stared" at voters at four polling centres, intimidating them in the process.

"What is of interest is that he is accusing me of posing and staring at voters at Claire, Riverside, Gandidzanwa and Nyamatsine," he said.

"It is also interesting to note that he won with 272, while I pulled 204 at Gandidzanwa where he is alleging that I intimidated voters."

Madiro rubbished allegations that he unleashed violence in Mutare North and made reference to The Herald of September 3, in which police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said there were no reports of violence in Manicaland.

"I simply attached the article so that the judges will see for themselves," he said.

Madiro later thanked his party members for voting for Zanu-PF, saying President Mnangagwa would soon visit the province to extend his gratitude. He urged party members to be united and stop fuelling factionalism. Madiro said people should be open to each other on matters of the party.

"We noted that there are corrupt people who join Zanu-PF and grab top positions in a bid to push their criminal activities," he said.
- the herald

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