Zimbabwe Police Quiz Minister Kasukuwere Over Baba Jukwa
Tinashe Farawo
Zimbabwe Sunday Mailo
Sunday, Jul 27, 2014
Environment, Water and Climate Minister Saviour Kasukuwere was yesterday questioned by police detectives investigating the case involving shadowy Facebook character “Baba Jukwa”.
Minister Kasukuwere, who was reportedly accompanied to Criminal Investigation Department headquarters by lawyer Mr Farai Mutamangira, is the second Cabinet minister to assist police with the case after his Information, Media and Broadcasting Services counterpart Professor Jonathan Moyo last Thursday.
Minister Kasukuwere tendered a sworn affidavit after the investigators subpoenaed him.
Mr Mutamangira could not be reached for comment.
In a statement last night, the minister said: “This is to confirm that today Saturday July 26, 2014 I had audience with members of the ZRP team that is investigating the Baba Jukwa case at the CID Headquarters in Harare during which I tendered a sworn affidavit.
“This was pursuant to a subpoena extended to me yesterday by the investigating team. While I am unable to divulge the content or substance of the exchange of information that took place between me and the investigating team given that the matter in question is before the courts, I can nevertheless say that the exchange was professional, cordial and mutually respectful within the confines of the law.
“I left the CID headquarters with a very strong and satisfying reaffirmation of the fact that the rule of law is alive and well in our constitutional democracy.”
The Sunday Mail Editor Edmund Kudzayi and his brother, Phillip, are allegedly linked to the Baba Jukwa syndicate and face charges of attempting to subvert a constitutionally-elected government and undermining the authority of the President.
Kudzayi says he became aware of the Baba Jukwa issue when Minister Kasukuwere called him as an information technology expert to assess information provided by an Australian-based hacker identified as Kennedy.
After reporting back to Minister Kasukuwer, Kudzayi says, he was referred to Prof Moyo who in turn took him to the Defence Ministry where he worked to help unmask the Baba Jukwa syndicate.
Police have expressed interest in several people as they investigate the matter.
A fortnight ago, police said they were looking for a 13th suspect – South Africa-based Chawarika Matongorere – who they alleged was responsible for sourcing funds and posting subversive material on the online social networking site.
Other suspects include Wilf and Trish Mbanga, publishers of The Zimbabwean newspaper in the UK, as well as the weekly newspaper’s South Africa correspondent Mxolisi Ncube.
Other suspects are UK-based computer programmer Samson Chifamba, UK-based systems and software engineer Walter Shoko, George Chirakasha who is resident in the UK, and Anomie Drew, Piniel Nhokodi, Romeo Musemburi and Sarudzai Florence.
Both Edmund and Phillip are currently out of custody on bail, coupled with stringent conditions.
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| Zimbabwe Minister for Environment Saviour Kasukuwere second from right. |
Zimbabwe Sunday Mailo
Sunday, Jul 27, 2014
Environment, Water and Climate Minister Saviour Kasukuwere was yesterday questioned by police detectives investigating the case involving shadowy Facebook character “Baba Jukwa”.
Minister Kasukuwere, who was reportedly accompanied to Criminal Investigation Department headquarters by lawyer Mr Farai Mutamangira, is the second Cabinet minister to assist police with the case after his Information, Media and Broadcasting Services counterpart Professor Jonathan Moyo last Thursday.
Minister Kasukuwere tendered a sworn affidavit after the investigators subpoenaed him.
Mr Mutamangira could not be reached for comment.
In a statement last night, the minister said: “This is to confirm that today Saturday July 26, 2014 I had audience with members of the ZRP team that is investigating the Baba Jukwa case at the CID Headquarters in Harare during which I tendered a sworn affidavit.
“This was pursuant to a subpoena extended to me yesterday by the investigating team. While I am unable to divulge the content or substance of the exchange of information that took place between me and the investigating team given that the matter in question is before the courts, I can nevertheless say that the exchange was professional, cordial and mutually respectful within the confines of the law.
“I left the CID headquarters with a very strong and satisfying reaffirmation of the fact that the rule of law is alive and well in our constitutional democracy.”
The Sunday Mail Editor Edmund Kudzayi and his brother, Phillip, are allegedly linked to the Baba Jukwa syndicate and face charges of attempting to subvert a constitutionally-elected government and undermining the authority of the President.
Kudzayi says he became aware of the Baba Jukwa issue when Minister Kasukuwere called him as an information technology expert to assess information provided by an Australian-based hacker identified as Kennedy.
After reporting back to Minister Kasukuwer, Kudzayi says, he was referred to Prof Moyo who in turn took him to the Defence Ministry where he worked to help unmask the Baba Jukwa syndicate.
Police have expressed interest in several people as they investigate the matter.
A fortnight ago, police said they were looking for a 13th suspect – South Africa-based Chawarika Matongorere – who they alleged was responsible for sourcing funds and posting subversive material on the online social networking site.
Other suspects include Wilf and Trish Mbanga, publishers of The Zimbabwean newspaper in the UK, as well as the weekly newspaper’s South Africa correspondent Mxolisi Ncube.
Other suspects are UK-based computer programmer Samson Chifamba, UK-based systems and software engineer Walter Shoko, George Chirakasha who is resident in the UK, and Anomie Drew, Piniel Nhokodi, Romeo Musemburi and Sarudzai Florence.
Both Edmund and Phillip are currently out of custody on bail, coupled with stringent conditions.
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