MDC secretary-general Chalton Hwende has distanced himself from claims by pro-ZANU PF and government social media activists popularly know as Varakashi (destroyers), that he masterminded terrorist activities being perpetrated by machete-wielding gangs across the country.
Speaking to NewZimbabwe.com on Saturday, Hwende claimed that the accusations were a stratagem devised by State agents to eliminate him. He said:
I am aware the system wants to eliminate me and are now using their agents to try and link me to this murderous group as a way of getting me arrested and shifting blame to the MDC in order for them to ban the party.
The machete gangs inappropriately referred to as “MaShurugwi” (they have nothing to do with the chrome-mining Shurugwi district in the Midlands), have been accused of violence, robbery and murder across the country.
Last week, the marauding gangs disarmed and murdered a police officer, Wonder Hokoyo at Good Hope Mine in Battlefields, Kadoma while he was safeguarding the site with other officers.