MDC says Mnangagwa must fire Owen Ncube as Security Minister- he is a thug

The Movement for Democratic Change has called on President Emmerson Mnangagwa to reverse the appointment of Owen “Mudha” Ncube as Minister of State Security with immediate effect saying he is a thug.

Ncube was sworn in last Wednesday. He was previously Minister of State for Provincial Affairs for the Midlands.

“Mnangagwa in his wisdom or lack of it thereof decided to elevate a mobster and formalize a vigilante by making him one of the most powerful occupants of the state,” the MDC said in a statement.

“Mudha is a known violent kingpin, a ring leader of a Midlands based terror cult known as Al-Shabaab . This group has in the past orchestrated raids of homes belonging to opposition members demolishing property, torturing activists and their families.

“He is a thug who is known for public brawls including the infamous incident in July 2014 in which he was involved in a fistfight with Masango Matambanadzo from (Kwekwe Central) at Amaveni Shopping Centre. The fight came over allegations of instructing youths to perform acts of arson over a campaign including the two against each other.

“In Kwekwe senior MDC leaders like Blessing Chebundo have been victims of violence orchestrated by this fellow. At some point he was involved in a near fist fight with Tapiwanashe Matangaidze who was then a serving Deputy Minister in the government of Zimbabwe.”

The MDC also called on Mnangagwa to transform the Intelligence Services into an organisation that can contribute in combating corruption, fight illicit financial flows and provide forensics around the trail of funds externalised.

He should enact a law governing the operational use of the intelligence services in Zimbabwe and establish the independent complains mechanism against members of the security sector provided in section 210 of the constitution.

It said Mnangagwa should prioritise security sector transformation including ensuring the independence and professionalisation of all security services.

Full statement:

A security threat cannot be the security chief

The absence of an Act of Parliament regulating the operational use of intelligence services in Zimbabwe is a concern for the MDC.

The Army is regulated through the Defence Act, the Zimbabwe Republic Police is guided by the Police Act while the Prisons and Correctional Services are regulated through the Prisons and Correctional Service Act.

Only the Central Intelligence office has no Act of Parliament guiding their operations, excitable individuals can manipulate the loose arrangement. This is worsened by the recent appointment of Owen ‘Mudha’ Ncube as the head of the Ministry responsible for the intelligence services. The appointment is a manifestation of a failure, reluctance and disinterest of a total break from the past by the current government.

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