Mnangagwa’s agents failed to arrest Tendai Biti at Chirundu after hostile Zambian border guards threatened to arrest Zimbabwe CIDs if they touched the MDC official on foreign soil.. See full statement below
This memorandum serves to put on the record that-:-
On 8 August 2018 at around 0600 hours, wanted personTendaiLuxtonBitino further particulars suppliedarrived at Chirundu One Stop Border Post, Exit Side,Zambia. He was in a Toyota Hilux Double Cab, White in colour, registration number ADA7273 which was being driven byTawanda BlessingChitekweNR 48-112236-H-48 DOB 14/01/82 and Residential address not supplied.
He was also in the company of two other male occupants whose identityhasnot been established.
Upon arrival at the border,which is geographically located across the Zambezi River on the Zambian soil,the wanted person then gave a Zambianagent their passports who avoidedZimbabwe Immigration formalitiesand presented the passports to Zambian Immigration Officials.
The Zambian Immigration Official grabbed the passports and informed Zimbabwe Immigration officialby the nameShingiraiChimedzaabout the issue sinceZambia Immigration was aware thataccusedTendaiLuxtonBitiwaswanted in Zimbabwe.
Members of Criminal Investigation Department,Chirundu who were manning the vehicle clearance desk on the Zambian side were also notified about the issue. Theteam then sought for reinforcement from the station.
The information was reacted upon bypolice officersand President’s Office. The accused person and his associates were approached and he strongly resisted arrest arguing thathe was protectedby International law since he had already crossed the Zambeziriverand was in the process of applying for Asylum.
He went further to state that police officers had no right to interview him on foreign soil henceallthe accusedpersons refusedto furnish their full particulars.
At the same time,TendaiLuxtonBitishouted on top of his voicesayinghe was being abducted and called for assistance from Zimbabwean travellers going to Zambia numbering approximately 300 people.
Members of the public joined in and refrained security agents asthey wereeffecting arrest on the accused person andhisassociates.
Since there was commotion, Zambia authorities joined in and assisted Zimbabwe authorities and took the accused person and his associates to Immigration offices, Zambia.
The Zambian state agents then had an interview with the Wanted person and his associates.They ordered the Zimbabwe security agents not to enter their office.
After sometime, the Zambian authorities being led by number 10961 Detective InspectorMwabawho is the Officer-In-Charge CID Chirundu Zambia without considering the Chirundu One Stop Border Post Concept then threatened Zimbabwe authorities with arrest for executing their mandateonZambian soil.
The Zambian authorities then refused to hand over the accused persons citing that they wanted to consult with the superiors in Lusaka, Zambiasince the accused person had indicated that they were running away from political persecution.
They alsorefused to have an urgent D-JOCmeeting with Zimbabwe authorities.
A team of Zambia Para Military Troop armed with AK 47 Rifles came to the border and escorted the accused person,his associatesand the Toyota Hilux vehicle which had not beentendered for clearance byZambia Police Service, Chirundu.
Matter is being investigated by CID Law and Order Harare under DR 16/08/18.
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT CHIRUNDU
