The home of Sybeth Musengezi, who is bringing a legal challenge against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ascent to power in 2017, was allegedly set on fire, according to Zimbabwean police.
The trial was scheduled to start on Monday, but Musengezi’s attorney informed the BBC that the matter had been taken off the court’s calendar pending the resolution of an appeal against the inclusion of two additional parties.
Four guys with their faces concealed attacked Musengezi’s house, according to the man, who claims to be a Zanu-PF member. He informed the BBC that they tossed an incendiary device into his residence and into his car.
His vehicle and one room were destroyed, but he and his family were safe. While he agreed that the police should be allowed to conduct their inquiries, he asserted that he thought the motivation was political.
He filed a lawsuit in October contesting the legitimacy of the Zanu-PF central assembly that chose Mr. Mnangagwa as party leader following the overthrow of Robert Mugabe in 2017.
According to Musengezi, the party did not adhere to its own constitution, and Mr. Mnangagwa is not the rightful leader of the organization.
“I don’t have a problem with Mr Mnangagwa leading Zanu-PF, but the leaders have to be democratically elected,” he told the BBC, adding that the arson incident would not deter him.
Musengezi was detained earlier this year and charged with fraud after he joined Zanu-PF in 2012 using the wrong address.
He said that the charge, which was ultimately dropped, was intended to intimidate him.
He said that unmarked automobiles had been stationed outside his home before the alleged attack and that he had received death threats.
According to Tafadzwa Mugwadi, a spokesperson for Zanu-PF, the group rejects any claims that it was responsible for the attack.
He charged Musengezi with trying to build a reputation by acting the victim.
