ZANU PF’s suspended Harare provincial youth chairperson, Godwin Gomwe, has been convicted of insulting a Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) agent and labeling him a “Gamatox” member and uttering other unprintable words in a telephone conversation.
by PAIDAMOYO MUZULU
Gomwe was convicted yesterday when he appeared before Harare magistrate Takunda Mtetwa on a charge of insulting CIO agent and Zanu PF member Abraham Samushonga over the phone.
He will be sentenced today.
The court heard that sometime in May this year, Gomwe called Samushonga on his mobile phone and shouted unprintable words to him in contravention of Section 88 (c) of the Postal and Telecommunications Act.
In his ruling, Mtetwa said the defence had failed during trial to rebut whether Gomwe had uttered the words which at face value had no legal definition but carried meaning to politicians.
“The word Gamatox is best understood by politicians,” Mtetwa said.
- 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
“In Gomwe’s defence, he played the Zimbabwe Liberation War Collaborators Association (Ziliwaca) and Zimbabwe Liberation War Collaborators Organisation (Ziliwaco) cards.”
He added, “However, his lawyer failed to prove to this court whether Gomwe uttered the insulting words or not.”
Gomwe was represented by John Ndomene in the case, where the former youth chairperson was also facing charges of criminally insulting Ziliwaca executive, Winnie Madekufamba during the ruling party’s national congress last December.
The magistrate also wondered why Gomwe did not bring any witnesses for his defence.
“The court wonders why he did not bring any witness to boost his defence case. Maybe it’s because not everyone is willing to be involved in the problems of others,” Mtetwa said.
Patience Chimusaru prosecuted.
