HARARE businessman and director of Mashwede Diesel Services Alex Mashamhanda yesterday told magistrate Nomsa Sabarauta that he was being persecuted by senior Zanu PF politicians for his allegiance to the MDC-T party. REPORT BY CHARLES LAITON SENIOR COURT REPORTER
He said his effort to complete a service station project in Mbare was being thwarted by Zanu PF Harare youth chairperson Jim Kunaka.
Mashamhanda made the claims while testifying in support of his employees Isheanesu Maribha (34) and Gwezuva Changamire (35) who are on trial for allegedly attempting to offer Kunaka a $15 000 bribe.
“Senior politicians have been mobilising people to destroy my property due to the fact that I support MDC,” Mashamhanda told the court.
“Kunaka is being influenced by senior politicians to mobilise youths to disturb progress on the construction of the service station in Mbare. They want to settle their scores with me by politicising the project.”
The businessman sympathised with the police whom he said were also facing challenges in dealing with the matter.
“Some police officers from Law and Order came to my office and told me they could not arrest the youths due to instructions given to them by senior politicians,” Mashamhanda claimed.
After Mashamhanda’s evidence, the defence closed its case and the magistrate remanded Maribha and Changamire to January 11 next year for judgment.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
It is the State case that Mashwede Diesel Services was allocated a stand to build a service station in Mbare, but the residents protested against the move.
On June 25 this year, it is alleged Kunaka was approached by one Shepherd Hwande alias Gunpowder on behalf of the two accused seeking his influence to convince the residents to stop demonstrating against the construction of a service station in the area.
This was after Gunpowder had allegedly been promised $15 000 by an informant whose identity was not disclosed in court to forward the cash on behalf of the accused.
The accused then contacted the said informant and asked him to meet them at Crowne Plaza Monomotapa Hotel on June 28.
It is alleged the informant reported the matter to the police and a trap was set leading to Maribha and Changamire’s arrest after handing $5 000 to the informant.
