MUTARE magistrate Lucie-Anne Mungwari yesterday postponed the trial of suspended Zanu PF Manicalancial chairperson Mike Madiro and his deputy Dorothy Masuka facing stocktheft charges to May 21. Report by Obey Manayiti
Mungwari, however, did not disclose the reasons for the postponement saying these had been disclosed to both the State and defence counsels in her chambers.
Madiro and Masuka are being accused of conniving to steal 10 beasts meant for slaughter at President Robert Mugabe’s birthday celebrations in Mutare last year. Both have denied the charge and alleged political persecution by some senior party members from the province.
Before the postponement,Zanu PF provincial clerk Lucy Golowa told the court that Mabika had allegedly sent her a text message with instructions to tamper with minutes of a party meeting where the cattle issue had been discussed to cover up the offence. Golowa said she showed the text message to the party’s provincial administrator Angawache Nelia Maenda who testified in court on Tuesday.
In her testimony, Golowa said some additions were made on the last paragraph before the conclusion, adding the additions were not done procedurally.
She said police detectives later searched the office and retrieved both the original copy of the minutes and the alleged doctored documents. Another witness, Gift Gombarume, a volunteer data capture clerk at the Zanu PF provincial office, however, denied coming across the doctored minutes, but said he had heard about the matter.
Other key witnesses that have testified so far include the party’s national secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa, provincial treasurer Supa Mandiwanzira and custodian of the alleged cattle John Chirimambowa.
Mandiwanzira testified in Madiro’s favour saying the province had been made aware of the cattle’s whereabouts while Mutasa, Chirimambowa and Maenda gave evidence that nailed the two provincial party leaders.
- 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
Still to testify is the party’s provincial secretary for administration Kenneth Saruchera, secretary for transport David Momberume and two police officers involved in the investigations.
Mutare lawyer Tinofara Hove is representing Madiro and Masuka.
