Chasi murder, rape cases postponed

News
THE trial of prominent Bulawayo black economic empowerment activist Sonny Kuzomunhu Chasi facing charges of murdering his wife Dorcas Majola and raping his daughter has been struck-off the roll due to shortage of judges at the Bulawayo High Court.

THE trial of prominent Bulawayo black economic empowerment activist Sonny Kuzomunhu Chasi facing charges of murdering his wife Dorcas Majola and raping his daughter has been struck-off the roll due to shortage of judges at the Bulawayo High Court.

SENIOR COURT REPORTER

A court official yesterday confirmed that the matter would no longer be heard this term.

“We had allocated it a week, but we could not deal with the matter because of the shortage of judges,” the official said.

“The matter will be back on the roll in the first term of next year.”

This is the second time that the matter was postponed after it was last term set aside by judge Justice Martin Makonese so that it could be allocated more time since it involved a lot of issues which included six counts of rape and murder, which needed more time to process.

The Bulawayo High Court has been left with three judges after two of them, justices Nicholas Ndou and Maphios Cheda left the bench.

Chasi (73), represented by Herbert Shenje of Shenje and Company pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

He is being accused of allegedly murdering his wife who was 41 whom he was customarily married to and raping his daughter, who was 12 years old then ( now 17).

Sometime in 2009, Chasi was sentenced to seven years in jail for fraud.

He was released on July 6 2012 on home leave from Connemara Open Prison just outside Gweru and he went to his house, Number 4 Richard Allen Road in Waterford, Bulawayo.

He discovered that Majola was four months pregnant and an argument ensued over the pregnancy. Chasi allegedly assaulted Majola and she ran away from the house.

He returned to prison and was released on November 2 last year.

He again allegedly assaulted Majola before dumping her unconscious and bleeding body near the intersection of Lawley Road and 4th Street in Suburbs.

Chasi reportedly made a false report that he and his wife had been mugged.

On the rape charges, the State alleges that between December 1 and 31 2008, Chasi was staying with his family in Richmond when he raped his daughter.