Story by Peter Chivhima
The trial of Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislator, Job Sikhala who is facing charges of inciting public violence continued this Thursday, with the State witness nailing Sikhala and his accomplice Godfrey Sithole for causing chaos in Nyatsime last year.
During cross-examination, Detective Sergeant Gift Mutamba told the court that Sikhala and Sithole were seen in a convoy of lorries and small vehicles heading towards Nyatsime where an orgy of violence later erupted.
The court also heard that Sikhala went to Chitungwiza and Epworth mobilising CCC supporters to engage in violence on the pretext of avenging the death of a Chitungwiza woman, Moreblessing Ali, whose mutilated body was found in a disused well in Nyatsime.
Allegations are that in June last year, Sikhala posted a video on social media platforms mobilising CCC supporters to engage in violence.
Sikhala is jointly charged with Sithole who is accused of providing transport which ferried CCC supporters to Nyatsime before they allegedly engaged in violence.
Meanwhile, the trial of six suspected armed robbers who allegedly robbed ZB bank of US$2.7 million cash-in-transit in 2021 continued this Thursday.
The suspects include Nomatter Jonga, Matthew Simango, Fanuel Musakwa and Shadreck Njowa, while the other suspect Charles Chirara was shot dead last year in a shootout after allegedly committing another robbery in Chadcombe, Harare, while on bail.
In another case, Sybeth Musengezi’s trial continued with the cross-examination of the key witness in the matter who is also ZANU PF Harare Province chairperson, Cde Godwills Masimirembwa.
During cross-examination, Cde Masimirembwa told the court that there was no political bullying in Musengezi’s case, but a matter of fraud.
Cde Masimirembwa also testified that facts gathered by the ZANU PF team revealed that Musengezi joined the party through fraudulent means after he submitted a fake address.
Musengezi through his legal representatives tried to delay the court proceeding by objecting that the state’s evidence is not admissible while demanding the person who authored the ZANU PF party cell register to come in person.
It is the state’s case that in 2019 Musengezi allegedly connived with Taurai Mutimbanyoka to misrepresent that he was a ZANU PF party member at the cell level to enable him to be eligible for election.
Musengezi was then elected vice chairperson of a ZANU PF District Youth Wing and went on to participate in other ZANU PF elections and programmes.
