By Simba Chikanza| Contrary to claims by Constantino Chiwenga to ZimEye on Tuesday, Econet boss, Strive Masiyiwa has revealed that it is the government which has blocked all internet services across Zimbabwe. Below was his statement and the full text of Chiwenga’s denial is also below.
Below is the full text of the phone discussion with Emmerson Mnangagwa’s deputy Constantino Chiwenga. He spoke to ZimEye’s Simba Chikanza (SC) Tuesday morning.
SC: Good morning VP.
Chiwenga: Yes?
SC: Murikutaura naSimba Chikanza. (You are speaking with Simba Chikanza)
Chiwenga: Nani? ( with who?)
SC: NaSimba Chikanza ( With Simba Chikanza)
Chiwenga: Simba Chikanza?
SC: Yes sir, ndini ndakambokubatsirai last time ne nyaya yemudzimai uya wekuDomboshawa aiti akanga arohwa. ( I am the one who helped you with the case of that woman from Domboshawa who was alleging that she had been assaulted… [BACKGROUND – 2 months before, an injured woman had requested Simba Chikanza access to speak with Chiwenga over an alleged assault matter by Chiwenga’s wife’s bodyguards]
Chiwenga: Akanga arohwa nani? ( Who had been assaulted by who?)
SC: Mudzimai uya aiti akanga arohwa nemaguards amai. (That woman who alleged that she had been beaten by Mrs Chiwenga’s guards).
Chiwenga: Wakataura neni? ( Did you talk to me?)
SC: Yes, Matondikanganwa? (Don’t you remember me?)
Chiwenga: Anyway ngatitaure hedu, hongu. (Anyway we can go ahead with the conversation).
SC: VP ndanetseka, ndiri kuona kuti internet yaitwa shut down on your instruction, yeEconet ne Net One. ( I am troubled. I can see that the internet has been shut down on your instruction.)
Chiwenga: Handizive, ndiani ari kutaura izvozvo? (I don’t know, who is saying that?)
SC: Eh itori shut down as we are speaking so , izvozvi. ( It is has been shut down even as we speak right now)
Chiwenga: No, I don’t know anything about that. Minister mambovafonera here kumanhingi kwacho? Mambotaura navo? ( Have you called the responsible minister? Have you spoken to him?
SC: Okay
Chiwenga: Hello?
SC: Variko maworkers vari kutaura kuti this is a government directive. ( The Workers there are saying this was a government directive)
Chiwenga: Ah, hatina chatinoziva. Hatiite directive yakadaro. Ende hatina capacity yekuitazvinhu zvakadaro. ( Ah, we don’t know anything about that. We don’t make such directives; and we have have no capacity to do that)
SC: Okay, yah, okay. Then pane mavideos akaita circulate nezuro of masoja, sorry, in this case not masoja but of varume vaiva vakabata maAK 47 nemassault rifles in civilian clothes. Vanhu vakapfurwa several and 5 have died so far. Makambonzwawo nezvawo? (What of the videos that were circulated yesterday of men in civilian clothes with AK 47s and other assault rifles. As a result people were shot, leaving 5 dead. Have you heard about them?)
Chiwenga: Asi mapfurwa? Endai kumapurisa ka monotaura nhingi izvozvo. Madarirei kudaro? Uri Simba Chipunza… uri kufona uri kupi? ( Who are you saying was shot? Why don’t you take such matters to the police then? Why are you doing this? You said you are Simba Chipunza, where are you calling from?)
SC: Ndiri kufona ndiri kuLondon. ( I am calling from London)
Chiwenga: Sorry! ..(hangs up)
SC: Hello! VP? VaChiwenga?
(Hello, VP? Mr Chiwenga?)
WE WILL BE GOING LIVE SHORTLY