The trial of two Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) security officers accused of severely assaulting former RBZ advisor Munyaradzi Kereke’s personal chauffeur Privilege Maturure took another twist yesterday after it emerged that Maturure had hired lawyers to assist in the ongoing trial.
Maturure argued that he believed the convicted bogus doctor Jacob Chiweshe who completed a medical affidavit on his behalf had been “planted at the hospital” to influence the outcome of the trial.
In a letter addressed to the State prosecutor Liberty Gono, the hired lawyers said they had been instructed by Maturure to “watch-in-brief” in the matter. Watching-in-brief means the lawyers would be assisting the State during the trial.
“We have been advised that our client (Maturure) fell victim to a bogus doctor who posed himself as a doctor at Parirenyatwa Hospital when our client went for medical examination,” the lawyers said.
“Our client believes that this person was planted so as to jeopardise the evidence in this case.
“However, of great assistance to your good office is the fact that our client reported the case and the bogus doctor, Jacob Chiweshe, was arrested.”
The lawyers, Gasa, Nyamadzawo and Associates, urged prosecutor Gono to apply for Maturure to be examined by a genuine medical doctor, but their suggestion was not entertained since the State had already closed its case.
Yesterday, Advocate Linos Mazonde applied for discharge at the close of the State case arguing the State had failed to prove a prima facie case against George Nyahuye and Phillip Dendere.
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Mazonde said it would be injudicious to order his clients to defend themselves and bolster the State’s case in a matter which on “its own would not stand the tests of times”.
Mazonde argued that Maturure failed to explain to the court how he was assaulted and told the court to consider that at one point Maturure came to court in a wheelchair and even brought a fake medical affidavit.
“His evidence must be dismissed by this honourable court given that no witnesses managed to tell the court as to who assaulted who on the day in question,” Mazonde said.
However, Gono urged the court to continue with the trial, arguing the two RBZ security officers had a case to answer.
Provincial magistrate Kudakwashe Jarabini postponed the matter to tomorrow for his determination.
