The trial of Mpopoma-Pelandaba MP Samuel Sandla Khumalo facing a charge of possessing dagga and assaulting members of his constituency, began last Thursday.
As of Friday, six State witnesses had testified in the trial which is set to continue next Thursday.
Khumalo denied the charge of possessing dagga and two counts of assault by gesture or word when he appeared before Bulawayo provincial magistrate Rose Dube.
He said he never possessed dagga, but said the banned drug could have been planted in his bedroom and motor vehicle by the police just to build a case against him.
He also denied making any threats to anyone.
The dreadlocked MP is out of custody on $50 bail. Allegations against him are that on March 4, Khumalo was found with 40,5 grammes of dagga with a street value of $4, 50 in his vehicle after he was dragged to Western Commonage Police Station following a misunderstanding with touts in his constituency.
The following day the police took him to his residence for further searches and they allegedly found 40,5 grammes of dagga hidden in his bedroom. The State alleges that on February 19 this year, Khumalo to MDC-T member Simon Nyoni’s house in Iminyela where he confronted him.
He allegedly threatened him: “You are the one going around telling people not to vote for me saying I smoke dagga. I will harm you.”
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The court heard Khumalo threatened Nyoni and drove away.
Khumalo is also accused of threatening the party’s provincial executive member Aleck Gumede with assault.
Jerry Mutsindikwa prosecuted while Matshobana Ncube represented Khumalo.
