Incarcerated RMG End Time Message Church founder Robert Martin Gumbura, who is on trial with eight others for allegedly attempting a jailbreak at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison in March this year, yesterday claimed they were being victimised and made to suffer at the mercy of prison officials since they started cross-examining State witnesses.
by PAIDAMOYO MUZULU
The jailed cleric, together with his co-accused persons, made an application seeking to have prison officials investigated for making their stay in prison a living hell.
Gumbura’s lawyer Tapson Dzvetero made the application soon after the court adjourned the trial to next year in order to afford State witness Claudius Mutizwa to recuperate from a hernia operation he underwent recently at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.
The cleric is jointly charged with Blessing Chiduke, Luckmore Matambanadzo, Luck Mhungu, Taurai Dodzo, Thomas Chacha, Thulani Chizema, Jacob Sibanda and Elijah Vhumbunu.
“I bring it to the court’s attention that I am advised by my client that they are being victimised by the prison authorities after their court sessions. However, I will make a proper application to the court when we come back for the routine remand on December 29,” Dzvetero said.
After the trial was postponed to January 6 next year, the suspects requested the court to remand them for the mandatory two-week period so as to enable them to continue relaying their grievances, if any, to the court.
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“I apply that we may be remanded to a two-week period so that we come and update the court on our living conditions as we are now facing abuse,” Mhungu said.
The applications continued as Chiduke also asked the court to investigate why he was being refused medical attention outside prison despite a doctor’s recommendation.
“I feel am being victimised because of my status in prison as an accused person. Prison authorities are refusing me to get medical attention outside prison despite a doctor’s recommendation,” he said.
He added: “It’s surprising that Mutizwa, who is also an inmate, but a State witness in this case, has been provided with medical attention outside prison.”
Presiding magistrate Francis Mapfumo said he would order an investigation into the issues.
Michael Reza appeared for the State.
