Shadreck Mashayamombe, Grace Mugabe’s aide, reportedly arrested this morning, was reportedly also expelled from Zanu-PF in November 2017 following a military initiative code named Operation Restore Legacy. Prior to this, his reported defence of the former first lady bordered on the absurd, and he is also known for his violent streak.
Mashayamombe almost came to blows with Norton legislator Temba Mliswa after the two traded accusations in the national house of assembly in recent times. They were both ejected from the House by deputy speaker Marble Chinomona.
Shadreck Mashayamombe. Facebook.
On October 6 this year, after outspoken Matabeleland proportional representation MP Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga claimed that 70% of Zimbabwean parliament members were HIV-positive, Mashayamombe demanded that she withdraw her statement.
“Honourable speaker, there is somebody who is insulting me, Mashayamombe from there. Don’t be a coward. What kind of a man are you? You are sick,” Misihairabwi-Mushonga objected before approaching the speaker to privately convey the insult, and Mashayamombe was ejected from the House.
Shadreck Mashayamombe. Facebook.
On September 1, Mashayamombe and other party supporters organised a solidarity march in support of the embattled first lady shortly after she evaded arrest in South Africa after assaulting model Gabriella Engels. However, Robert and Grace Mugabe stayed away from the event, with the couple instead addressing an educational conference at a hotel a stone’s throw away from the venue where this solidarity event was hosted.
Mashayamombe, who is also the Zanu-PF Harare political commissar, called for the expulsion of all Indians nationals from Zimbabwe on February 19, 2017. He wrote on his Facebook page: “Something must be done with this Indian community in Zimbabwe.”
Shadreck Mashayamombe. Facebook.
“Firstly, they don’t bank their money, secondly, they don’t develop their estates, and thirdly, they don’t want to marry our sisters, fourthly, before independence they used to be given special treatment as compared to blacks,” he wrote.
In May 2016, Neharanda Radio wrote that he “has taken boot-licking to new levels by describing First Lady Grace Mugabe as an ‘Angel’ sent by God to help long-suffering Zimbabweans realise their full potential.”
He told party supporters that it was this unique quality that saw Zanu-PF settle for Grace Mugabe as the president of Zanu-PF women’s league.
Shadreck Mashayamombe. Facebook.
“Leaders are chosen by God and we were given…Amai by the heavens, she is the one who will end all the suffering and I believe with people like her Zimbabwe is in safe hands. To me she is like an angel and I believe in her,” Mashayamobe said.
He continued: “… We are not being led by anyone but the leadership that was chosen by our president. We have one centre of power and that is Rober Mugabe…Harare doesn’t tolerate dissent.”
In April this year, three people were injured following violent clashes between Zanu-PF supporters sympathetic to Mashayamombe and secretary for administration George Mashavave.
Violence broke out when he reportedly caught wind of Mashavave and other provincial executive committee members wanting to pass a vote of no confidence on him and national political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere at the party’s provincial offices.
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