A ruling party official faces custody after authorities detained him for carrying a firearm at the recent annual conference. Brighton Ndebele, 40, who works as an aide to Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu, appeared before magistrates in Mutare and was refused release pending investigation.
Security measures at the gathering prohibited all ministerial assistants from bringing weapons into the venue. Party sources suggest the arrest relates to internal power struggles between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Vice President Constantino Chiwenga. Multiple agencies are examining whether the security violation was accidental or intentional.
Minister Ndlovu said he was unaware that his personal assistant had a gun at the event. The minister learned of the detention only after Ndebele sent a brief message, which authorities confiscated before confiscating his phone. Investigators questioned two women connected to the suspect as part of their inquiry into the matter.
Security measures at the gathering prohibited all ministerial assistants from bringing weapons into the venue. Party sources suggest the arrest relates to internal power struggles between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Vice President Constantino Chiwenga. Multiple agencies are examining whether the security violation was accidental or intentional.
Minister Ndlovu said he was unaware that his personal assistant had a gun at the event. The minister learned of the detention only after Ndebele sent a brief message, which authorities confiscated before confiscating his phone. Investigators questioned two women connected to the suspect as part of their inquiry into the matter.
