MTHWAKAZI Republic Party (MRP) leader Mqondisi Moyo has claimed that he survived an abduction attempt on Christmas Day and now fears for his life.

Moyo told Southern Eye that a suspected State agent tried to abduct him while returning from prayers in Entumbane.

He said he spent the whole day praying, and around 5.45pm, he went to the Entumbane shopping complex where he bought some fruits.

“After moving for about 30 metres from the person who sold me fruits, a man came from behind and showed me story links on his phone about the MRP.  He then asked me if the MRP leader being mentioned in the stories was me,” Moyo said.

“The man identified himself as a member of the Police Internal Security and Intelligence.  I told him that I suspect that he could be a thief. He then began to call Njube Police Station and Entumbane Police Station for backup."

Moyo said he ran into the bush, with the ‘security agent’ in pursuit.

“The man called for backup, telling his colleagues that he had posted a picture of my face on a WhatsApp group.”

Moyo said he hid in the bush, from where he could hear the man calling out his name and threatening to shoot if he did not come out.

“After failing to locate me, the man then went back. It was almost dark.  After 30 minutes, I called members of the security department of the party and 12 of them came to my rescue. I had already left the bushes and had sought refuge at a nearby house.  That is where the MRP security guys picked me up,” he said.

“I now fear for my life,” he said.

Nine members of the party are serving jail time for public violence, six at Harare Prison, two at Chikurubi and one at Gwanda Prison, while the cases of two others are still before the courts.

On March 23, 2022, while addressing Zanu PF supporters in Chitungwiza, President Emmerson Mnangagwa threatened to arrest and/or “shorten” the lives of MRP political activists.

Mnangagwa repeated the statement on June 23, 2022, addressing party supporters in Gweru where he described MRP activists as a bunch of people possessed by the Biblical demon, Legion.