Member of Parliament for Norton Constituency Hon Temba Mliswa has accused Chegutu MP Dexter Nduna, Mashwest Head of Police and unmentioned politicians of being behind the surge of Machete gangs also known by another monicker “MaShurugwi”.
Mliswa tweeted this after the recent gruesome killing of a 27-year-old Police Constable Wonder Hokoyo.
Hokoyo had been deployed at Good Hope Mine Brompton Battlefields in the company of Costable Kamhuka, Constable Gurajena, Constable Tapfumaneyi and Constable Mwenje a female Police officer armed with FN rifles where there was a gold rush. Hokoyo was attacked from behind and struck once at the back of the head with a log and disarmed leaving the Police officer with no option rather than to escape from the attack.
The gang known as “Team Barca” lead by leaders known as Mike and Givy made a frantic chase to Constable Hokoyo and struck him all over his body using machetes and axes leaving him lying lifeless. The body of the deceased was found in a pool of blood approximately 100m away from the shafts. Constable Hokoyo later died due to injuries sustained as a result of the attack.
Mliswa Tweeted
Ziyambi should be honest with Nduna who has not been arrested but is known to be involved.We cannot have a full fledged party that is full of criminals operating wantonly. JOC must come in and take over and deal with this situation once and for all.
— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) December 30, 2019
There is need to target the gang leaders for this people and they will reveal everything. The system should be swift and consistent in bringing to justice these criminals.
— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) December 30, 2019
The police accommodated the makorokoza now they are killing them. The security command in Mash West is very weak& some politicians like Nduna who are involved are protected.The Minister of State Security should take charge& not allow this situation to degenerate into more anarchy
— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) December 30, 2019
The killing of Constable Hokoyo has caused outrage with the public accusing the government of not effectively dealing with the situation. Many are of the notion that the problem will not be solved anytime soon as powerful people are behind the machete gangs.
Junior Police officers seem to be aware of the gang’s connections and are afraid of taking action, echoing the sentiments by Minister Ziyambi that the gangs are arrested the next minute they are released. This makes the deployed officers vulnerable to attacks which may explain the hesitant behavior by the Hokoyo and team.
Burial for the slain officer is expected to be later today in Masvingo.