The Sunday Mail
Police are keen to interview a Kenyan national — Silas Jakakimba in connection with the violence that occurred in Harare last week.
The capital city’s Central Business District last Tuesday turned into a war zone after supporters aligned to the MDC Alliance leader Mr Nelson Chamisa took to the streets in violent protests against the election results.
The rowdy youths initially tried to enter the Rainbow Towers, where the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission national vote counting centre was housed, in a bid to disrupt the results announcement process.
However, the rowdy members were dispersed by the police, before they took to the CBD where they forced the closure of business premises while unleashing an orgy of property destruction. It took the intervention of the military to quell the disturbances upon realisation that the police had no capacity to deal with the situation as most of its members had been deployed to around the country on election duty.
In a statement last night, police chief spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said; “The Zimbabwe Republic Police is keen to interview Silas Jakakimba, a Kenyan national in connection with the disturbances which occurred in Harare on 1st August 2018.
“Members of the public with information of his whereabouts should contact CID Law and Order on telephone number 0242 251505 or National Complaints Desk on telephone number 0242 703631 or any nearest police station.”
The police also appealed to Zimbabweans to remain peaceful and united. Jakakimba was the personal aide of Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga during the 2007 presidential campaign and for four years during the Grand Coalition in that country.
Kenya went into that Grand Coalition following a political, economic and humanitarian crisis that erupted after the then President Mwai Kibaki was declared winner of the presidential election that was held on December 27, 2007. Odinga of the Orange Democratic Movement alleged electoral manipulation and urged his supporters to stage demonstrations that turned violent, leaving many Kikuyus dead.
A few days ago, Jakakimba wrote on his twitter account congratulating, Chamisa saying: “I can never ever, stop believing in you(r potential), Br. Our moral support remain steady and unwavering. CONGRATULATIONS @nelsonchamisa.”
