ZANU PF’s aspiring Lobengula-Magwegwe constituency legislator, Menziwa Dube, was once arrested in Dubai for allegedly selling fake gemstones, Southern Eye has established.
Dube will represent Zanu PF in the December 9 by-elections after emerging victorious in the party’s primaries held on Saturday.
Southern Eye has, however, since established that Dube has a criminal record having been arrested in 2012 in Dubai for selling fake gemstones.
Zanu PF Bulawayo provincial spokesperson, Archibold Chiponda, however, defended the party for selecting Dube as its candidate, adding that he was not convicted before.
“We have no problem with our winning candidate. Why are there all these reports coming up now? This is the time when people tarnish each other’s images," Chiponda said. “In any case, what we know is that he was never convicted.”
In September 2012, media reports said Dubai Police arrested a three-member gang including Dube for selling fake gemstones.
According to reports, police received a tip-off from an Asian businessman who claimed to have been cheated of Dh 150 000 (about US$40 840) by Dube and his accomplices. Abu Dhabi police then arrested them as they tried to flee the United Arab Emirates.
At the time, it emerged that the gang was implicated in 86 cases of fraud involving fake gemstones.
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Dube was, however, not convicted.
This is the second time Zanu PF will be fielding a candidate with a questionable record in the city.
Losing Bulawayo Central candidate in the August 23 and 24 elections, Tendai Charuka contested despite having a criminal record. Charuka, through his land developing company, was arrested after swindling National University of Science and Technology employees of US$149 000 in a botched housing scheme.
Ibhetshu Likazulu secretery-general, Mbuso Fuzwayo, said it was disturbing that the ruling party was allowing characters with a questionable records to contest in elections.
“However, this is not surprising. 90% of the people there (in Zanu PF) are there for sanctuary. If they commit crimes they go there to hide knowing that they will be protected,” Fuzwayo said.
“Citizens have to act responsibly and choose candidates with a clean record.”
Former Bulawayo senator Tamani Moyo said: “Zanu PF will always be like that doing things as it pleases. However, some residents at the forefront of campaigning for such people will cry foul once they discover that the persons they have voted for are criminals.’’
President Emmerson Mnangagwa proclaimed the by-elections following the recall of Citizens Coalition for Change councillors and legislators by self-proclaimed interim secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu.
