THE trial of jailed cleric Robert Martin Gumbura and eight others on charges of attempting a jailbreak from Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison took a new twist yesterday with the State’s witness, Claudius Mutizwa, making claims he was an undercover operative at the prison and, as such, he could not answer some of the questions posed to him by the disgraced cleric’s lawyer.
by PAIDAMOYO MUZULU
Gumbura is jointly charged with Blessing Chiduke (25), Luckmore Matambanadzo (39), Luck Mhungu (38), Taurai Dodzo (47), Thomas Chacha (37), Thulani Chizema (32), Jacob Sibanda (28) and Elijah Vhumbunu (38).
They all deny the charges.
Mutizwa claimed he was playing a covert role in the prison when he was under cross-examination by Gumbura’s lawyer Tapson Dzvetero.
Mutizwa made the remarks when he was pressed to explain the relationship between Gumbura and the prison officers, whom he claimed were running errands for the jailed cleric.
“I am not at liberty to disclose some things that I know since I was undercover in the prison. I was assigned by some prison officers to do the work and revealing these things can breach prison security,” he claimed.
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His answer prompted Dzvetero to make an application before presiding magistrate, Francis Mapfumo to make a determination on whether Mutizwa should be compelled to testify on the issues.
The application caused the adjournment of the trial to today when the magistrate is expected to deliver his ruling.
Earlier in the trial, Mutizwa had told the court Gumbura was a “godfather” in prison and that he had communication with the outside world, claiming he had been in touch with former Vice-President Joice Mujuru.
However, under cross-examination, he failed to produce the evidence of the communication or answer why the officers implicated in the matter had not been arrested.
On Tuesday, Gumbura’s co-accused had told the court Mutizwa was delaying the trial so he could continue enjoying a pampered life, as the State’s star witness. They claimed he was, therefore, in no hurry to get off the witness stand.
Mutizwa is a former police officer and is currently serving a jail term for car theft and impersonating a police officer.
Michael Reza appeared for the State.
