ZIMBABWE Electoral Commission (Zec) chief inspector Jane Chigiji yesterday told a Harare magistrate that she could not recall what transpired when MDC-T chief elections agent Morgan Komichi presented stray ballots to the commission.
BY PHILLIP CHIDAVAENZI
Chigiji was speaking in the trial of Komichi who is accused of contravening the Electoral Act after he allegedly tampered with ballots allocated to Constable Mugove Chiginya for the July 15 special vote.
Speaking during cross–examination before magistrate Tendai Mahwe, Chigiji said she could not recall the exact day or date when Komichi presented the ballots. When defence counsel Alec Muchadehama remarked to Chigiji that she was forgetful, the latter admitted that it was normal, “especially if you are in court”.
Chigiji said she had also forgotten the sitting arrangement in the room because she was not paying attention to detail.
Although she said Komichi sat facing the commission’s chairperson Justice Rita Makarau, other witnesses who testified earlier said the accused sat next to the chairperson.
At first Chigiji said when Komichi presented the ballots to the commission, the tamper-proof envelope was sealed before changing to say it was unsealed. Questioned about the change by Muchadehama, she attributed it to “a slip of the tongue”.
After saying Komichi spoke in Shona when he presented the issue to the commission, she again changed to say he was using English.
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The trial continues today.
