Mystery continues to shroud the circumstances surrounding the assault of two opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) by alleged Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) operatives at the Rekai Tangwena Government Complex in Mutare last week.
The two legislators, Donald Mavhudzi (Highfield) and Goodrich Chimbaira (Zengeza East), were allegedly attacked by a group of CIO operatives.
Sources at the complex claimed that Chiredzi Central MP, Ropa Makumire, was spared because he complied with the operatives' instructions.
According to sources in the security sector, the altercation began after the MPs parked in a bay reserved for Innocent Ncube, the Manicaland provincial intelligence officer.
"One of the MPs openly told an alleged CIO operative that they serve a big master and wanted to meet Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister, Misheck Mugadza," said a source from the CIO.
"One of the MPs was arrogant and clearly stated that they could not do anything to them."
However, Mavhudzi dismissed the allegations of arrogance in an interview with Standard People, insisting that they complied fully with the operatives' directives.
According to Mavhudzi, the confrontation started when they returned to the parking area and allegedly found a man deflating the tyres of his vehicle and Chimbaira’s.
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"When I asked them what they were doing, they started assaulting me," Mavhudzi said. "When Chimbaira tried to intervene, they started assaulting him as well.
He confirmed that they reported the matter to the Mutare Central Police Station under reference number RRB 6744208 and were treated at Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital.
"I believe we were assaulted for not supporting Constitutional Amendment Number 3 Bill (CAB3), because one of the alleged operatives said that," Mavhudzi added.
Makumire said the MPs were in Mutare on official parliamentary business for the portfolio committee on local government, public works and national housing.
"Our programme was amended to include a courtesy call on the Minister of State for Manicaland Province, Misheck Mugadza," Makumire explained. "Upon arriving at the Government Complex, we parked our vehicles in what appeared to be vacant parking bays."
He said a CIO operative advised him that the bay he had used was reserved and directed him to park in the next available bay.
He said Chimbaira did the same, and they proceeded to the minister’s office.
"When we returned, Mavhudzi and Chimbaira found someone deflating the tyres of their vehicle," Makumire said.
“As they questioned why this was being done, CIO officers confronted them and physically assaulted the two MPs.”
Makumire added that he was telephoned only two minutes after leaving for another meeting at the Civic Centre and had to return to assist his colleagues.
Acting Manicaland police spokesperson, assistant inspector Wiseman Chinyoka, said he had been out of the office and was unavailable for comment.
