HARARE – Police have dismissed as false, media reports that former Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe was arrested on her way to a Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) campaign rally in Bulilima, Matabeleland South on Monday.
Online media platforms Monday reported the prominent politician was arrested together with her spokesperson, Ntando Ndlovu and other CCC activists allegedly over unconfirmed offences linked to their association with Nelson Chamisa’s party activities.
But in a statement Tuesday, police dismissed the claims and urged politicians to desist from spreading false information to the media.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police dismisses a story circulating on social media platforms linked to Citizen Coalition for Change Bulawayo’s Swithern Chirowodza that Thokozani Khupe and other CCC activists were arrested as totally false,” police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said.
“The police has not effected any arrest on Khupe and associates. The false story is dismissed with the contempt it deserves.
“It is totally wrong for politicians to claim arrest by Zimbabwe Republic Police in false circumstances.”
Added Nyathi, “The Zimbabwe Republic Police, in actual fact impounded a South African registered Toyota Hilux registration number JW15PT GP belonging to Joubert Maplanka (64) for failure to produce a valid Temporary Import Permit at the 98km peg along Bulawayo-Plumtree Road.
“The vehicle has been in Zimbabwe since July 2021 and the TIP is no longer valid. Thokozani Khupe later came aboard a different vehicle and was not arrested at all.
“We continue to urge journalists to verify information obtained from purported reliable sources before publishing such stories.”
