A Zanu PF official, who requested anonymity, said there was division in the party on how to deal with Chipangano as they intended to use them again in the coming elections. “Some are saying if they are disbanded it would mean losing not only the single seat Zanu PF has in Harare but control of all the markets such as Mupedzanhamo and Siya-so, where members are forced to vote for the party,” said the official.
The militia group has also been hired to threaten and harass members of the MDC-T outside Harare. A senior Zanu PF official in March this year pleaded with party leadership to be allowed to use Chipangano to dislodge Marondera Central MP Ian Kay.
Mutasa last week refused to comment on whether the party had managed to rein in members of the group referring all questions to the party’s spokesperson Rugare Gumbo, who was not answering his mobile phone.
Kunaka, who denied links with the notorious group, last week said it was not his duty to enforce the law by stopping Chipangano from abusing Harare residents. “The police are the ones that are supposed to deal with those people if they are there,” said Kunaka. “If you see them committing a crime, you must alert the police.”
