💔 SAD: Macheso’s bodyguard viciously attacks Zimpapers senior journo
ZIMPAPERS senior politics reporter Richard Muponde (pictured) was left for dead in a pool of blood after an unprovoked brutal attack by builder and karateka Lloyd Gweshe, also known as Nyanzvi, who doubles up as sungura musician Alick Macheso’s bodyguard.
Muponde, who writes for the Zimpapers Politics Hub, was left unconscious with severe head and facial injuries, including three knocked-out teeth, after the assault at a drinking spot in Granary Park 1A, where he resides.
Narrating his ordeal, Muponde said the incident happened on the night of Thursday, August 7, when he arrived at his local shopping centre around 10pm after returning from town.
“Because of delays from town through congestion and reconnecting, I arrived at my shopping centre around 10pm with the grocery shops having shortly closed,” Muponde said.
“Since I wanted to buy soft refreshments for home as I always do, I decided to leave my paperbag bananas which I was carrying, with a guy who does tyre repairs and went to look for the drinks.”
With most shops closed, Muponde entered one of the four night spots still open. There, he encountered his colleague, Kudakwashe Mutemachani, who drew him outside to talk.
“As we conversed, there was a bit of some melee, people body brushing against each other to find space. That’s when this man, who was a stranger to me and whom I later came to know as Lloyd Gweshe, a karateka, bodybuilder and Macheso’s bodyguard, bumped into me,” he recounted.
According to Muponde, Gweshe immediately confronted him.
“He came to my face and said, ‘Wakatidenha’. I tried to understand what he was saying before he slapped me twice. He was wearing black knuckle dust gloves with silver shining spikes but exposing the end of the fingers,” Muponde explained.
His colleague attempted to intervene , but the attack escalated.
“He confronted me again and said, ‘Wakuda kuzvinyanya, ndokupaza,’ and was pleading with him to explain why he was assaulting me, at the same time hit me with a knuckle-dusted fist on the upper right eye and two other blows on the mouth. I fell unconscious,” he said.
The veteran journalist said he was later told he had been unconscious for nearly two hours.
“The bar lady provided 20 litres of water for my resuscitation. My assailant and his colleagues reportedly left me in that state bragging ‘tomuuraya uyu’,” Muponde said.
“I lost three of my teeth and suffered a deep cut and internal bleeding in the right eye.”
Muponde stressed he never retaliated during the assault.
“I did not even fight back. I could not even block the fists because of the power and force,” he said.
The following morning, Muponde reported the matter at Marimba Police Station under Case Number RRB 6542651, with Constable Muzoremba as the investigating officer.
However, more than a week later, no arrest has been made.
“My worry is that since I reported my case over a week ago, the assailant is bragging that he can’t get arrested nor taken to c
urt,” Muponde said.
“This has left me vulnerable, especially as a person who deals with political information. My life is at stake, and I don’t know the motivation of the attack.”
He added that Gweshe has allegedly been frequenting the scene of the assault reportedly influencing witnesses.
Sometimes appears in full police riot gear, raising questions over his connections.
Meanwhile, Muponde expressed gratitude to colleagues who rallied to support him.
“I want to convey my sincere gratitude to Mr Tich Makahamadze on behalf of Orchestra Mberikwazvo, and to my workmates who engaged the band to provided financial assistance to get help during my difficult days,” he said.
Muponde is currently recovering , but his condition remains dire.
“I can hardly sit upright for 20 minutes and I am surviving on liquids only,” he said.
Residents of Granary Park allege that Gweshe leads a gang which he trains that has been terrorising the community, with cases of assault reportedly swept under the carpet.
As pressure mounts, Muponde said he is contemplating escalating the matter to Police Headquarters, citing lack of traction on the caseMake a complaint to the Officer in charge of Marimba Police in writing. If you are not satisfied with the response you then proceed to the Officer Commanding District and express your dissatisfaction then to the Police General Headquarters.
You just need to ensure that you have a Medical Report which covers the injuries you sustained during the attack. Dont worry your case is straight forward it can never be swept under the carpet. Witnesses are there who saw the brutal
attack. Dont be intimidated by mob phsycology. A member of the neighbourhood watch committee can put on police uniform but that does not exonerate him. He is still accountable for his actions. He is not above the law. You can also even institute civil proceedings against him.
