-Matuke laughs off accusationsÂ
STAFF REPORTER
HARARE – Former Masvingo Urban MP and ex Zanu-PF Politiburo member Dr Daniel Shumba claims he survived an assassination attempt on his life in South Africa by secret agents.
Shumba claims that secret agents in three cars visited his home in South Africa to take him out but fortunately he was in Uganda where some of his businesses are based.
In a leaked audio to Minister of State Security, Lovemore Matuke, Shumba says some security guys invaded his house in an attempt to harass or abduct him but he was not there.
Shumba claims that he poses no threat to anyone and there is no reason for the Government to unleash security agents on him and he promises to fight back in the event that this persists.
When contacted for comment Matuke laughed off the accusations and said Shumba is just an attention seeker.
“We have no business in South Africa to abduct or harass any citizens based there. Shumba is a nobody and he just wants to be in the limelight for nothing, after he was expelled from the party I tried to assist him to come back but that failed.
“He is in Uganda running away from his debts in South Africa that are mounting everyday, he should not waste our time by peddling lies,” said Matuke.
“Good evening Hon Minister Matuke. My name is Dr Daniel Shumba. I have been called from South Africa. I am in Uganda, Kampala at the moment in hospital.
“I am told there are security guys who attempted to enter into my house either to harass or abduct me. I don’t know who gave them the instructions but what I want to state at the onset is that, Matuke you are my brother. We have come a long way from the time when we were together in Masvingo when I was the provincial chairman to the time when we became politiburo members and Members of Parliament together with you.
“Yes I have some views that are very different and I believe things can be done differently but I don’t think it is the reason to take one’s life especially a brother,” he said
He said in a democratic country people should have different political opinions which build up to national development.
“I don’t know why there is no empathy and tolerance of divergence of views. I have not sought any legal action from the time I escaped an abduction in 2019 in Zimbabwe. I cause no harm. I am a prayer warrior.
“I lost my immovable property and July Moyo expropriated my farm but I remained silent,” he said.
Veteran political commentator Professor Fidelis Duri said this reflects deep seated factional fighting in the ruling party and it is bad for the country as scarce resources are channeled towards things that do not benefit the ordinary person who is suffering.
“This shows the factional fights between the old guard that used to support Mugabe and the Mnangagwa loyalists who are bent on eliminating any form of opposition within the party.
“The state is investing resources in trying to eliminate political opponents outside the borders wasting scarce resources that should be channeled towards fighting unemployment and stocking up medicines in hospitals,” said Prof Duri.
He said he has nothing to do with those who are fighting the system and has no link with them.
“I have my own views and I have means which are non- violent and which can open an engagement. I have a solution to the current problems faced by the country. I have $1.6 billion available to citizens of Zimbabwe, but should I be killed for that,” he added.
He said he has asked security colleagues from the airforce of South Africa to provide security at his place and he was going to meet South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on the issue.
