The trial of former President Robert Mugabe’s son-in-law Simba Chikore, who is facing charges of unlawfully detaining former Zimbabwe Airways (Zim Airways) legal head Bertha Zakeyo, has been set for November 14.
BY DESMOND CHINGARANDE
Chikore, who is being represented by Chris Venturas is being charged together with Simbarashe Mutimbe and the two appeared before magistrate Elisha Singano yesterday.
The State represented by Linda Gadzikwa successfully asked the court to merge the two dockets.
Venturas opposed to the application, saying the State should have filed a notice to allow him to prepare and respond properly.
Singano ruled in favour of the State, saying Chikore and Mutimbe allegedly committed the same offence at the same time and the facts were also the same.
Allegations are that on June 7 this year, Mutimbe, who was on duty while acting in connivance with Chikore, unlawfully deprived Zakeyo of her freedom of bodily movement by refusing her exit from Zim Airways premises after she had been fired from work.
Chikore, who was Zim Airways consultant, allegedly clashed with Zakeyo after he accused her of selling company secrets and being disloyal to the fledging airline. Zakeyo said she was kidnapped for more than two hours to force her to sign her dismissal letter.
