John Nkomo's security officer held over farm shooting

John Nkomo's security officer held over farm shooting

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By Lindie Whiz
Posted to the web: 13/05/2009 01:36:04
THE chief security officer of Zanu PF national chairman John Nkomo has been arrested on a charge of attempted murder after a man was shot FIVE TIMES in a farm dispute last Saturday.

The man, a war veteran known as Sigogi, is accused of shooting at and wounding Patrick Masunda, brother to Langton Masunda, a Matabeleland businessman locked in a four-year-old land dispute with Nkomo.

Police spokesman Superintendent Wayne Bvudzijena said the Masunda brothers, in the company of two other people, had arrived at the Jijima Lodge in the Gwayi Conservancy drunk on Saturday night “and provoked a situation”.

Nkomo has been locked in a marathon court battle to prise the 611.79 hectare safari lodge from Masunda. The matter is currently before the Supreme Court which will hear Masunda’s appeal against a default judgment entered by the High Court in favour of Nkomo last year.

Bvudzijena said: “We are still carrying out investigations into the shooting and at the moment, we are holding a man who is assisting us with investigations.

“He will appear in court as soon as investigations are complete.”

That man is Sigogi, a fearsome former Zipra combatant arrested and released in 2001 in connection with the abduction and killing of war veterans’ leader Cain Nkala.

Police are investigating a claim that Sigogi hired 14 war veterans and paid them US$250 each “for the job” which was turned down by several ex-combatants in Lupane, the Matabeleland North provincial capital.

A Masunda family spokesman confirmed the brothers had been drinking in Lupane before arriving at the lodge late on Saturday night intending to have a braai.

“Patrick got out of the car when they got to the farmhouse and he was shot at. The first shot hit him on the buttocks and as he lay down, he was hit by four more shots. We have no doubt that their target was Langton and there is no prize guessing the attackers were doing this for Nkomo,” said Brian Masunda, brother to Langton.

As Patrick lay wounded, the brothers braved a hail of bullets and dragged him to the car before speeding off only to realise one of their tyres had been punctured as they drove out of harm’s way.

“They had no jack and had to lift the car up being four of them before putting on the spare wheel,” the family spokesman said.

Nkomo, a Minister of State in the President’s Office, was unavailable for comment.
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