THREE members of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), who allegedly murdered a senior Central Intelligence organisation (CIO) official Brown Mwale (40), over a taxi fare in Glen Norah two years ago, are set to appear before High Court judge Justice Ester Muremba for trial today.
BY CHARLES LAITON SENIOR COURT REPORTER
The soldiers, Blessing Nyakwima (29), Nkazimulo Nkomo (29) and Damascus Tafa (28) are being charged alongside a taxi driver Vitalis Nyakwima. The trial was supposed to start on Monday this week at the High Court, but their lawyer Norman Mugiya applied for a postponement indicating that one of the accused persons, Nkomo was ill and not fit to stand trial.
They are all in custody.
According to the State case, Mwale was allegedly killed following a misunderstanding over a taxi fare charged by Vitalis on May 4, 2012.
The State alleges that on the day in question, Mwale had been drinking beer at Hwenje night club in Glen Norah B in the company of his friends Thulani Gumbo, Amos Mukwena and Mavhuto Bhasikoro when he later decided to hire a taxi to his Waterfalls home towards midnight.
It is alleged after Mwale and his friends were in the taxi, Mwale was charged $5 by Vitalis prompting a misunderstanding between the two.
However, in the ensuing melee, Vitalis called for back-up and invited his brother Blessing together with their friends, Nkomo and Tafa.
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When they arrived they allegedly started assaulting Mwale and his friends with open hands, clenched fists and booted feet ordering them out of the vehicle.
At that juncture Gumbo, Mukwena and Bhasikoro are said to have run away leaving Mwale at the mercy of his attackers.
The State alleges Blessing and Vitalis Nyakwima together with Nkomo and Tafa briefly fled the scene when they spotted police officers on bicycles patrolling the area.
Mwale’s friends, however, later returned and while they were walking home along Sebakwe road the gang re-emerged and once again began attacking the helpless Mwale. The gang allegedly bundled Mwale into the taxi and left the scene at high speed driving along High Glen Road and Mwale’s body was later discovered dumped near an area popularly known as “pamasimbi” in Glen Norah.
The matter was reported to the police leading to the gang’s arrest.
