The trial of University of Zimbabwe law lecturer and International Socialist Organisation (ISO) general-co-ordinator Munyaradzi Gwisai who is facing charges of attempting to overthrow the government the “Egyptian way”, continues today.
The State star witness, Jonathan Shoko, is expected to take to the witness stand for a record sixth time under cross-examination by Gwisai’s lawyer, Aleck Muchadehama.
As the trial progresses, the defence is battling to unmask Shoko and convince the court his real name is Rodwell Chitiyo, who is not a police officer, but an agent of the Central Intelligence Organisation.
The defence argument is that Shoko never attended the ISO meeting and was nowhere near the ISO offices when Gwisai and his colleagues were arrested, but was brought in by the State as a star witness to bolster a case against Gwisai and ISO members.
During the previous hearings, Shoko denied being the one shown in photographs produced in court claiming features of a person on the photos were identical to his.
At one point, Muchadehama left the court in stitches when he indicated to Shoko his schoolmates at St Faith Mission in Rusape, referred to him as a popular television cartoon character, “Pinocchio”, because of his nose.
The matter is being presided over by provincial magistrate Kudakwashe Jarabini while the State is represented by Edmore Nyazamba and Michael Reza.
Gwisai is being charged alongside Hopewell Gumbo, Antonater Choto, Welcome Zimuto, Edson Chakuma and Tatenda Mombeyarara.
