THE State last week invoked charges against the brother of Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) leader Mqondisi Moyo who was accused of insulting President Emmerson Mnangagwa in 2022.
The party raised eyebrows over the matter as it came days after Moyo launched a fresh bid for secession, petitioning the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) to facilitate negotiations with the government over the matter.
In a petition dated May 20 addressed to Sadc executive secretary Elias Magosi, Moyo appealed for support from the regional body on its secessionist agenda.
Sadc is yet to respond to the latest petition.
MRP submitted a similar petition in September 2023.
Mnangagwa has previously warned opposition activists, in particular MRP, pushing for the creation of a breakaway State that their lives will be shortened.
On Wednesday, Moyo’s brother Dinginhlalo was arrested and charged with insulting Mnangagwa in 2022.
However, on Thursday when he appeared in the court, the State changed the charge to public disorder, with indications that Harare had advised the prosecution to alter the charge.
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He appeared before Plumtree magistrate Aeline Munamati charged with disorderly conduct at a public place.
Dinginhlalo (58) is alleged to have insulted Mnangagwa and Zanu PF around early April 2022 at Silozwi business centre in Matobo district.
Moyo is, however, denying the charge and was remanded out of custody to June 19.
In a statement, MRP said the circumstances leading to Dinginhlalo’s arrest are suspicious.
“On his initial arrest, he was abducted by 13 State security agents from Plumtree,” the statement read.
“Under normal circumstances, he was supposed to be arrested by police responsible for Gwandavale and Lushumbe, who have a base at Masiye camp in Lushumbe or Matopos Police Station, which is the main police station policing Matobo.”
The statement added: “It also boggles the mind why he will have to be tried at Plumtree Magistrates Court when there is Khezi District Magistrate Court under whose jurisdiction Matobo district falls.
“The 13 police officers, who came to arrest him in April 2022, were heavily armed with AK47s and different other sorts of guns.”
The party said his arrest was politically motivated.
“One wonders why the case keeps on resurfacing, after he was released from Plumtree Prison when Mr Nqobani Sithole, his defence counsel, won him bail,” MRP said.
The court, at the close of trial, indicated that the case lacked merit.
“Three years later, one wonders where the case has gotten the merit,” the statement read.
“It has not been forgotten that on March 23, 2022, Mnangagwa . . . threatened MRP president, members and Mthwakazi people at large, with shortening their lives for thinking that they can separate Mthwakazi from Zimbabwe.”
Mnangagwa has reiterated that Zimbabwe will remain a unitary State as recognised by the United Nations.
MRP is campaigning for the creation of the Mthwakazi Republic, covering parts of the Midlands and Matabeleland provinces.
Mnangagwa insists that it will not happen.
