Bullet in syringe donation, Tsvangirai's ally charged with firearms possession

Keresensia Chabuka, the MDC-T Senator for Mutare, has been charged with the illegal possession of firearms in a case which could once again strain relations in the coalition government.

Chabuka was charged together with Gabriel Chiwara, the MDC-T's district chairperson for Mutare North. This was after the law enforcement agents claimed to have discovered "two 9mm live ammunition" from one of the four boxes of syringes, which were allegedly sourced and donated to Chipfatsura Clinic in Marange area by the senator.

The charge comes a few days after the arrest of Martin Muchiruka, the MDC-T councillor for ward 4 in Mutare North constituency, on May 31 for allegedly flouting the same law. Prosecutors declined to prosecute Muchiruka and asked the police to polish up their investigations into the matter.

Chabuka has denied sourcing or donating the medical utensils while Muchiruka argued that all the boxes were sealed when the donation of the syringes were done.

The two also contend that they were not in possession of the boxes from January up to the time the police allegedly found the bullets.

Besides Chabuka, the State in 2009 also charged exiled MDC treasurer Roy Bennett, a former legislator for Chimanimani constituency, with illegal possession of firearms for the purposes of trying to commit acts of insurgency, banditry and terrorism. However, Bennett was acquitted of the charges in 2010.

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