MDC-T mob attacks, shuts down press conference by Mwonzora accuser

Kudzanai Mashumba, who previously accused Mwonzora of embezzling party funds, stopped from addressing reporters

Taking to his heels ... Kudzanai Mashumba runs across a street to escape MDC-T mob in Harare on October 21, 2021

HARARE – MDC-T lawmaker Yvonne Musarurwa on Thursday led a mob which stormed and shutdown a press conference by a former party member who once accused party leader Douglas Mwonzora of misappropriating funds.

Kudzanai Mashumba, a former aide to Mwonzora’s deputy, Thokozani Khupe, had just started reading from a prepared statement at the Media Centre in Harare when Musarurwa and a dozen MDC-T youths swept in.

The heavily-built Musarurwa, who is also the MDC-T’s youth leader, dragged Mashumba by the collar as she demanded to know who had sent him.

As tempers flared, Mashumba ran and sought temporary refuge in a building along Jason Moyo Street while being pursued by the MDC-T mob.

He later jumped into a pick-up truck.

MDC-T spokesman Witness Dube denied that Mashumba was assaulted by MDC T youths, instead claiming he was attacked by “unknown members of the public aggrieved by him masquerading as MDC-T leadership.”

Dube defended Musarurwa, insisting that she in fact saved him from the wrath of angry members of the public. Reporters at the scene disputed that account.

“Unknown members of the public wanted to assault Mashumba, resulting in our youth leader Yvonne Musarurwa intervening to save the situation first by stopping Mashumba from proceeding with his press conference at a risk of being assaulted by members of the public who were greatly aggrieved by him masquerading as MDC-T leadership and secondly by moving him to be escorted out of the building under the security of the MDC-T youth assembly,” Dube said.

“So, in short, we believe our youth assembly saved the day for Mashumba.”

In May, Mwonzora came under the spotlight after it was alleged he had failed to account for ZW$6 million illegally withdrawn from the party coffers. Mwonzora denies abusing party funds.

Dube said Mashumba was expelled from the party five months ago and had no authority to address the media using the party’s tag.

“Mashumba was never an official of any party organ. He was chief of staff of Thokozani Khupe. He was expelled from the party after he called president Mwonzora a thief who stole his money,” Dube said.

Mashumba in May filed a police report against Mwonzora, claiming the embattled MDC-T leader embezzled US$5,500 from the party in December 2020.