By Simba Chikanza| Contradicting the Motlanthe Commission report, the former minister of State for Masvingo Province Josiah Hungwe yesterday denied knowledge of a newspaper report that quotes him verbatim telling delegates at the commissioning of Gudo Clinic, in Chiredzi, that Emmerson Mnangagwa will shoot people from behind in order to stay in power.
Speaking to ZimEye, Hungwe said:
“I have had so many people ask that, so please don’t worry yourselves about that because I never read it, eeeh, that is what people told me that it was reported in the newspaper, and the newspaper was The Mirror, something like that. Yes. I never read that, I never saw it.”
He was then asked for a comment since there is a full recorded speech of him speaking and saying so and he replied saying:
“Aaaah, comrade, you don’t do that,” shortly before abruptly ending the telephone call (SEE VIDEO BELOW).
In August last year, Hungwe was quoted denying ever attending the Gudo Clinic function. The function was however covered far and wide by both the private and state media (including the Herald.)
He reportedly told the Daily News in an interview:
“You cannot make a story out of it. It is not fair because I was not there when what you are reminding me was allegedly said, it is your creation so look for other people to talk to not me,” he fumed as he hung his mobile phone before switching it off.
In the below recording of the speech revealed by ZimEye.com, Hungwe is heard clearly saying Mnangagwa would shoot his way into power.
“Our leader Mnangagwa is a soldier and you know that a soldier is always equipped with a gun to do whatever he wants. If you want to run away from him he can shoot you so you should always know that”; Hungwe said, while commissioning the Gudo Clinic.
He also added:
“Do you know that I am the leader of the new dispensation here in Masvingo and I say ichi chinhu chedu chatakaita (this is our thing; it’s our creation).”
Hungwe’s sentiments added to statements by the then Deputy Minister Of Finance Terence Mukupe who said that the uniformed forces will not allow MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa to rule even if he wins the 2018 election.
Commenting on the development last night, Amnesty International activist and Masvingo Residents Association, Prosper Tiringindi told ZimEye the development presents an opportunity for citizens to take the Motlanthe Commissioners to court since their report “ignores” the Hungwe statements.
“We must take them to the courts, all of them,” Mr Tiringindi said. VIDEO BELOW: