THREE Beitbridge-based Zanu PF activists have been jailed for effective 10-year prison terms each for fatally assaulting an MDC member soon after the announcement of the March 2002 presidential election results where President Robert Mugabe had emerged the winner.
RICHARD MUPONDE
Boy Ndlovu (62), Ben Tshidino Ndou (58) and Ndangano Ndou (53) were on Wednesday convicted on their own plea of guilty to culpable homicide when they appeared before Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Nicholas Ndou.
The trio told the court they had no intention of killing the now deceased Nelso Nare Mudau (68) when they stormed his home on March 16, 2002 and assaulted him with logs, booted feet and fists for supporting leader of the pre-split MDC Morgan Tsvangirai.
Their alleged accomplice, Thembelani Ngulube, however denied the charge and is now set to be tried separately.
Initially, the case involved eight suspects before four others, who included Samson Masuku, Musa Ndou, Siphiwe Sibanda and Cephas Muleya, had their charges withdrawn for lack of evidence.
Public prosecutor Lewis Maunze told the court that on March 16, 2002, following the announcement of the election results, Ndlovu and the two Ndou brothers Ben and Ndangano accompanied a group of Zanu PF supporters celebrating Mugabe’s victory.
The group later agreed to go to Mudau’s home and intimidate him for allegedly voting for Tsvangirai.
- 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
The court heard Mudau’s daughters, Sister and Debra, had served as Tsvangirai’s polling agents in the area.
On arrival, the Zanu PF activists found Mudau with his two daughters and attacked them with logs, fists and booted feet and left them for dead.
Well-wishers later carted Mudau and his daughters to Beitbridge Rural District Hospital where they were admitted.
The next morning Mudau was transferred to Gwanda Provincial Hospital for further treatment.
However, he died a week after admission.
