Staff Reporter
Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa abandoned a handover ceremony of his bullet-proof armoured car in Mabelreign Golden Conifer on the 12th of August 2022.
A source said Nelson Chamisa was forced to abandon the handover ceremony of his armoured vehicle which was purchased by an organisation called Friends of Nelson Foundation (FNF) due to fears that the vehicle could be impounded by the State.
FNF, a group comprising of CCC diaspora and local activists, managed to raise US$122 300 against a target of US$120 000 through the GOFundME platform meant to purchase the armoured vehicle.
“On 12 August 2022, Chamisa failed to show up at the Golden Conifer for the hand over ceremony of his new bullet-proof armoured car. The vehicle was purchased for him by a group Friends of Nelson Foundation.
“Surprisingly, he abruptly cancelled the ceremony citing that he had received intelligence informing him of an intention by State Agents to confiscate the car. All the invited diaspora and local members who were present for the event were immediately informed that the event would proceed virtually so as to evade the State.
“Some of the key FNF figures from the diaspora who had come for the handover ceremony include Henry Jaji, Tonderai Basvi, Jumo Ulete, Chief Svosve and a local member, Kudakwashe Musasiwa,” said the source.
Attempts to get clarification from Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) Spokesperson Francis Chimanda on whether the vehicle was imported into Zimbabwe legally were in vein as his phone was not reachable.
However, a well-placed source within ZIMRA Communications Department said no such vehicle was imported into Zimbabwe by any organisation or by Chamisa. The source further said it was highly likely that the vehicle could have been smuggled into the country.
“I can confirm that we do not have any record of any bullet-proof armoured car arriving in Zimbabwe over the past few months. We also do not have any record of Chamisa or FNF importing a vehicle of that nature into Zimbabwe. If this vehicle is there then it was smuggled into Zimbabwe,” said the ZIMRA source.
Opposition party CCC has been involved in smuggling of various items into Zimbabwe. In July, a truck driver Chamunorwa Shonhiwa was nabbed 12km along the Beitbridge Harare highway with a consignment of CCC campaign materials and fire-arms intended for distribution in Chivi, Masvingo.
In another incident, a 36-year-old CCC member Sicelo Ndlovu was arrested whilst trying to smuggle a Mercedes Benz worth ZAR3.5 million into the country. Ndlovu was busted by State Security Agents after he had swapped South African plates with those of a local Subaru legacy AFC2106. This vehicle was believed to have been destined for delivery to CCC offices in Harare.
