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Pamela Shumba, Senior Reporter
ZAPU regional spokesperson and youth leader Mr Iphithule Maphosa was yesterday picked up for questioning in connection with the defacing of road signs along Robert Mugabe Way in Bulawayo.

Residents woke up on Monday to find signs along the street named after President Mugabe, replaced with signs written “Devolution Way.”

The signs were defaced from Connaught Avenue right up to 15th Avenue.

Mr Maphosa told The Chronicle yesterday that he was detained for about two hours at Bulawayo Central Police Station.

“I got a phone call from the police Law and Order section summoning me to visit their offices at Bulawayo Central Police Station.

“I went there with Tanita Moyo, the party’s organising secretary for Bulawayo province. When I got there they took pictures of me and fingerprints before advising me that they had called me in connection with the defacing of the road signs along Robert Mugabe Way,” he said.

Mr Maphosa said he professed ignorance and told the police officers that he had nothing to do with it.

“We support devolution as a party but we’re not responsible for defacing the road signs. It’s just speculation because of my political inclination and as an advocate for devolution of power in my personal capacity,” he said.

Meanwhile, the 8th Zapu congress kicked off in Bulawayo yesterday with the party president Mr Dumiso Dabengwa calling for strengthening of relations among opposition parties.

Chairman of the Coalition of Democrats Dr Simba Makoni and vice chairman Professor Welshman Ncube also attended yesterday’s official opening of the three-day congress.

Secretary General of the Tendai Biti-led People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Mr Gorden Moyo was also in attendance.