A ZANU PF chairman in Chiwundura, Midlands province, and an accomplice have been arraigned before the courts facing allegations of stealing a cow belonging to a member of the MDC.
Report by Stephen Chadenga
Gideon Muputa (67), the party’s chairman in Chiwundura, and Abiot Ngwenya allegedly drove a cow belonging to Maxwell Masvingise to the Zanu PF official’s homestead. The State led by Andrew Marimo alleged that sometime in October 2012 at Plot number 18, Mlezu farm in Chiwundura, Muputa tied a black cow belonging to Masvingise and drove it together with his herd.
In his defence yesterday, Muputa, through his lawyer Evidence Gonese, said the accusations were politically motivated and bent on tainting his image as the chairman of a political party in the area.
“I am the chairman of Zanu PF in my area while the complainant is a member of the MDC, hence I believe the allegations are malicious,” he said. “I pray that I be found not guilty and acquitted.”
Muputa further said on the day in question, he found the black cow at a stream at Mlezu farm among his cattle.
He said he drove his cattle towards his home leaving the cow behind, but it later followed his herd.
Muputa said he tried to separate it from his beasts, but failed as the cow kept on coming back.
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The complainant, who was looking for his cow, later on heard that it was among Muputa’s herd and made a report to the police, leading to the Zanu PF official’s arrest.
