Two gazebos at Zanu-PF National Commissar Saviour Kasukuwere’s rural homestead in Mt Darwin were gutted by fire on Thursday night. The cause of the fire is yet to be established although people at the residence suspect that it was caused by an electrical fault. However, Zanu-PF Mashonaland Central provincial chairman Dickson Mafios said they suspected that the fire was caused by a petrol bomb, and said they were waiting for a comprehensive report from Zesa to ascertain the exact cause of the fire.
When The Herald visited Kasukuwere’s homestead last night, security had been beefed up to include members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
The police officers said they were deployed following reports of the fire at the minister’s homestead.
In an interview, one of the workers at Kasukuwere’s residence, Mr Robbie Gatsi said 15 garden chairs were destroyed by the fire.
“We suspect that it was an electrical fault,” he said.
“I heard a loud sound at around 10pm on Thursday and I woke up. That is when I realised that the two gazebos were already burning.
“I alerted Minister Kasukuwere’s mother, Mrs Gladys Kasukuwere and one of my colleagues. About 15 garden chairs were destroyed by the fire.
“This morning (yesterday) Minister Kasukuwere visited, to assess the situation and officials from Zesa also came here twice. We are still waiting for their report.”
Mafios said: “Yes, it’s true two gazebos were destroyed by fire at the minister’s homestead.
“We are suspecting that the fire was caused by a petrol bomb by our enemies.
“Zesa officials are still carrying out their investigations and we are waiting for the outcome of their investigations.”
Efforts to get a comment from Minister Kasukuwere were fruitless last night as his mobile phone went unanswered.
Minister Kasukuwere was in Guruve South on Thursday where he was drumming up support for the Zanu-PF candidate in the Guruve South by-election slated for today.
The Guruve South constituency fell vacant following the expulsion of Mr Chriswell Mutematsaka from Zanu-PF for his links with sacked Vice President Joice Mujuru who wanted to unseat President Mugabe unconstitutionally.
In his address in Guruve, Kasukuwere said Zanu-PF was solidly behind President Mugabe ahead of the 2018 harmonised elections.
He said the ruling party was united and differences between individuals should not be viewed as instability in the party.-Herald
