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Farai Kuvirimirwa Court Reporter
A suspected member of a gang that petrol-bombed Zanu-PF offices at Machipisa Shopping Centre and Jongwe Printers after setting up an organisation to destabilise Zimbabwe has appeared in court. Ishmael Kauzani (39) was not formally charged when he appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Donald Ndirowei who denied him bail. He was remanded to November 28.
Kauzani is facing eight counts of attempted murder, two of aggravated malicious damage to property and one of subverting the constitutional government.

Prosecutor Ms Sharon Mashavira alleges that on September 28 this year, Kauzani, who was in the company of Collins Chisunga who has since been arrested and others still at large, set fire on the Zanu-PF offices using unknown implements before fleeing. The fire spread and destroyed 20 wooden benches, two tables and other furniture.

The fire spread to Grocery World Supermarket next to the offices destroying everything in the shop before the roof collapsed.
On the same day at around 2am, the gang went on to bomb Jongwe Printers which is situated in the Workington industrial area, the court heard.

Eight employees were on night duty and it is alleged that Kauzani and his accomplices were the gang who assembled outside the company premises armed with five Molotov cocktails and launched an attack on the first and second floor windows.

Two of the Molotov cocktails hit the windows but failed to ignite while one struck the walls.
Upon noticing the flames, the eight employees rushed out and noted burning debris of the petrol bombs on the wall and ground.

The attackers fled and the employees recovered one Molotov cocktail outside the premises.
Afterwards Kauzani met a woman and advised her that he was coming from Kambuzuma via High Glen and told her that there was a burning shop at Machipisa shopping centre.

A search conducted at his residence revealed that he had an MDC veteran activists association membership card which was attached to a coded document titled Operation Bravo 11, Ms Mashavire said.

It is alleged that the document contained strategies to destabilise the country.
On count 11, it is alleged that they hatched a plan to organise or urge the setting up of a group with a view to overthrow the Government by unconstitutional  means.

The document highlighted that destabilisation of the country was coded Xzania by insurgency and conventional warfare which was to be achieved through grouping of soldiers who will be trained insurgent tactics, weapon training, map reading, field craft, mine warfare and explosives.

The document indicated that attacks were to be carried out on isolated police posts and stations.