Shamaine Chirimujiri
POLICE have arrested a former member of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) for allegedly intruding at State House in Harare and threatening to overthrow President Emmerson Mnangagwa from power.
This emerged at Harare Magistrates’ Courts yesterday where it was alleged that upon his arrest the ex-soldier, Joseph Muhoni, was found in possession of marijuana.
The 36-year-old Muhoni appeared before magistrate Babra Mateko facing charges of criminal trespassing and unlawful possession of drugs.
He pleaded not guilty before he was remanded in custody to today for bail hearing.
The suspect, who was wearing a zebra tailored suit, argued that he did not trespass into State House.
“I did not enter the premises. I only approached the State House officials who were there and told them that I wanted to see President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
“The charge of trespassing does not apply because the State House officials were actually the ones who took me in before arresting me,” Muhoni told the court.
Allegations against Muhoni are that on January 31, he went to the main entrance of State House in Harare and approached security personnel who were manning the premises, before indicating that he wanted to take over as president of the country.
Officials subsequently took him into the guard room, where he was arrested after vetting.
Muhoni was found in possession of sachets of dagga weighing 0,02 grammes.
This comes after police arrested a 24-year-old man in Harare in December last year, after he tussled with one of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s protectors, while allegedly trying to disarm the soldier who was guarding the residence.
Sani Munyaradzi Musena also appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts charged with attempted robbery — with the State pushing for him to be jailed, amid allegations that his behaviour had been suspicious and dangerous.
This came after police also arrested a 27-year-old Shamva man in July, after he sneaked into State House before demanding to see Mnangagwa.
When magistrate Tafadzwa Miti asked Musena what he was doing at Chiwenga’s residence, he bizzarely claimed that the house belonged to his “uncle” — the late former president Robert Mugabe.
Stunned by this unusual and unexpected reply, the court subsequently ordered that he undergoes appropriate examination to establish his mental wellness.
Besides these cases, two other men were previously apprehended by authorities after they also attempted to sneak into Mnangagwa’s residence on the same day.
Police named them as Dylan Kanyungwe, 24, and Nigel Rutsito, 37. The duo was accused of posing as operatives from Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO).
