Malcom
Masarira,
better
known
as
Traore,
has
gained
a
large
online
following
for
his
outspoken
support
of
Vice-President
Constantino
Chiwenga’s
presidential
ambitions.
He
is
now
facing
several
charges,
including
inciting
violence
and
attempting
to
undermine
a
constitutional
government.
According
to NewsDay,
sources
close
to
the
investigation
said
Masarira
was
caught
in
a
sting
operation
involving
his
close
friend,
Lovemore
Thomson,
also
known
as
“Shorty”,
who
allegedly
used
the
US$10,000
as
bait.
Masarira
is
currently
being
held
at
Harare
Central
Police
Station.
It’s
understood
that
Thomson
arranged
to
meet
Masarira
in
Harare,
which
led
to
the
activist
revealing
his
home
address.
He
was
later
arrested
after
reportedly
going
on
a
spending
spree
in
the
capital.
Thomson,
however,
has
denied
the
claims,
insisting
he
played
no
role
in
setting
up
his
friend
and
knows
nothing
about
the
alleged
trap.
He
said:
“I
am
told
there
are
people
who
are
saying
I
was
given
US$10
000.
They
just
want
to
tarnish
my
image,
these
are
dogs.
I
am
not
a
bogus
person.
I
cannot
defend
myself
now
because
they
just
want
to
tarnish
my
image.”
National
police
spokesperson
Commissioner
Paul
Nyathi
confirmed
Masarira’s
arrest
but
said
he
could
not
share
more
details.
Masarira,
who
recently
returned
to
Zimbabwe
from
South
Africa,
once
contested
in
the
ZANU-PF
primary
elections
for
the
Chikanga
constituency.
He
has
since
taken
to
social
media
to
rally
support
for
his
political
cause.
His
campaign
for
Vice-President
Constantino
Chiwenga
to
succeed
President
Mnangagwa,
run
under
the
“General
Chiwenga
for
President”
banner,
has
gained
thousands
of
followers
online.