HARARE
–
Four
men
appeared
in
court
Wednesday
charged
with
malicious
damage
to
property
after
allegedly
trying
to
burn
down
properties
owned
by
Zanu
PF-linked
businessmen
on
March
28
2025.
Last
Matarutse,
40,
Abel
Jobe,
47,
Kizito
Chinhanga,
40,
and
Thomas
Chanetsa,
all
of
Chitungwiza,
were
not
asked
to
plead
when
they
appeared
before
Harare
magistrate
Marewanazvo
Gofa.
They
were
remanded
in
custody
after
being
advised
to
seek
bail
at
the
High
Court.
The
four
allegedly
drove
vehicles
and
set
them
on
fire
outside
the
offices
of
tenderprenuer
Wicknell
Chivayo,
petroleum
tycoon
Kudakwashe
Tagwirei,
a
DA
petrol
station
allegedly
linked
to
Tagwirei
and
a
business
complex
belonging
to
Kuvimba
Mining
CEO
John
Mangudya
in
Goromonzi.
The
events
came
hours
after
war
veteran
Blessed
Geza
named
Tagwirei
and
Chivayo
as
“criminals
around
the
president.”
The
National
Prosecuting
Authority
says
on
March
28,
2025,
at
about
2.15AM,
Matarutse
“with
intent
to
destroy
the
premises
of
IMC
Communications
company
located
at
42
Lanack
Road
Avondale,
drove
his
silver
Toyota
Corolla,
to
the
premises.”
Upon
arrival,
he
allegedly
parked
his
vehicle
at
the
entrance
gate
and
set
it
on
fire
intending
to
destroy
the
entire
building
owned
by
Chivayo.
The
fire
damaged
to
the
lighting
system
and
a
sign
post
inscribed
“Starlink
Authorised
Dealer.”
It
is
alleged
that
on
the
same
day
Jobe
went
to
Sano
Complex
in
Goromonzi
driving
a
blue
Nissan
Sunny
which
he
parked
outside.
It
is
alleged
that
his
intention
was
to
burn
the
complex
and
he
set
his
vehicle
on
fire.
The
vehicle
exploded
but
nothing
was
damaged.
Chinhanga
allegedly
went
to
Tagwirei’s
Sakunda
Holdings
at
number
11
Argyle
Road,
Avondale,
driving
in
a
blue
Nissan
X-Trail.
“Upon
arrival,
the
accused
parked
his
motor
vehicle
at
the
premises’
entrance
gate
and
set
the
vehicle
on
fire
intending
to
destroy
the
entire
premises,”
the
NPA
alleges.
Chanetsa
on
the
same
day
and
at
the
same
time
allegedly
went
to
DA
Service
Station
at
number
486A
Glennara
Avenue,
North
Highlands,
Harare,
with
the
intention
to
burn
down
the
premises.
“Upon
arrival,
the
accused
parked
his
vehicle
at
the
premises’
forecourt
and
set
the
vehicle
on
fire
intending
to
destroy
the
entire
service
station
but
the
fire
was
extinguished
before
it
destroyed
any
property.”