Why I threatened to shoot my worker

Why I threatened to shoot my worker - Mwonzora

Mwonzora court challenge raises stink -Newsday Zimbabwe

MDC leader Douglas Mwonzora said he threatened to shoot and kill his former party employee, Mutandwa Machera after he threatened to abduct his wife and daughter.

Mwonzora was dragged to court last year in February over the threats.

The matter, which was eventually dismissed in court, was based on MDC employee Machera’s claim to a US$9,600 outstanding wage.

Machera, according to Mwonzora, had threatened to kidnap his wife and daughter over the disagreement.

Mwonzora was speaking to journalists during one of a number of meetings meant to prepare the media and political parties ahead of elections in August.

“I was accused of trying to shoot someone, this person threatened to come to my house, threatened to abduct my wife and daughter and I said if you dare touch them, I will kill you.

“What man would not say that; if you touch my wife or child, I will kill you. This story about how this altercation came about was never sought.

“People did not know the real story. Of course, he took it literally that I was going to kill him. He had organised a group to come and demonstrate at my house over a wage dispute with the MDC.

“They planned to pitch tents outside my house and they would do press conferences and falsify police reports giving them approval for all this.

“The police had told them that they could not do so.

“They tried to march and pitch a tent at my house and I took corrective action, I deployed security at my house. I am the President of the MDC. They would not let their President’s house be attacked. I am the last line of defence, so the MDC deployed security to protect its President,” he said.

The case was dismissed as there was not enough evidence to sustain a case against Mwonzora.