by Grace Chekai

The MDC-Alliance House of Assembly aspiring by-election candidate for Marondera Central constituency has been reported to police for threatening to shoot a fellow Marondera resident over a debt that he is refusing to settle.

A contact told this publication that the aspiring candidate, Francis Badzarigere, had to be restrained from shooting Simon Chikwanha by a brave man who grabbed the pistol from behind and overpowered him.

“We do not know what spirit possessed this man. He owes Chikwanha US$360 which we are told he is refusing to pay back. On the day in question, the two arranged to meet at UMAA Institute to discuss how Badzarigere could settle the debt.

“However, Badzarigere was agitated and pointed his pistol at Chikwanha, bragging that he could shoot him and get away with it. He actually claimed that the police could not arrest him since they were his friends,” said the resident.

The resident said one man who was watching the quarrel stealthily advanced towards Badzarigere from behind and forcibly disarmed him.

The matter was reported to the police and investigations are under way.

Badzarigere is known to be of violent disposition. He oftens  threaten the Marondera community especially ZANU PF supporters with his firearm. Residents wonder why he is never arrested despite his terroristic behavior.

A contact within the MDC-Alliance said they were even surprised by his nomination for the Marondera Central by-election because the party resolved to retain the recalled members as candidates for the same constituencies.

The Marondera Central Constituency was left vacant after Caston Matewu was recalled.

Violence is in the DNA of the MDC-Alliance. A vigilante group backing that party’s leader nearly burnt Thokozani Khupe and other senior party officials in a hut they had sought refuge during the burial of the party’s founding leader, Morgan Tsvangirai in Buhera in 2018.