Sweet Sweet wants gun charges dropped

News
A Zanu PF activist facing charges of carrying a gun at a church function attended by Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko says he will seek a discharge after prosecutors closed their case yesterday.
Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko
Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko

A Zanu PF activist facing charges of carrying a gun at a church function attended by Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko says he will seek a discharge after prosecutors closed their case yesterday.

BY SILAS NKALA

Sweet Sweet, who is based in Nyamandlovu, was arrested on April 4 at the Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM Sengwayo) church’s 60th anniversary in Pelendaba after one of Mphoko’s bodyguards saw a pistol protruding from his jacket.

He appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Merilyn Mutshina for continuation of trial and the State closed its case.

Sweet is denying the charge of illegal possession of a firearm at a public place or an alternative charge of possession of a gun not in line with the purpose it is intended for, as stipulated by the law in terms of his gun licence (protection of cash in transit).

His lawyer Tendai Sibanda instructed by Vonani Majoko, argued the State had failed to prove a case against her client.

Sibanda said she would file a written application for discharge tomorrow.

The State represented by Dumisani Ndlovu said it would make written submissions concerning Sweet’s application for discharge on the same day.

Sweet’s case proceeded without oral evidence from AFM pastor Philisani Nkala after Sweet’s lawyers had asked the court to allow the matter to continue without the evidence, but to rely on statements recorded by the police. Nkala had failed to attend court due to ill health.

An investigating officer Joseph Chikango last week told the court that Nkala told him Sweet was not a member of the church but his parents were.

He said Sweet had committed an offence since he attended a public meeting illegally carrying a gun indicating that the church had sought clearance from the police and all members of the public were invited.

Chikango said he was told that Sweet was conducting ushering duties that were normally given to deacons.

Sweet was arrested by Mphoko’s security aide Vumani Ncube who handed him over to the police.

In his defence Sweet argued a church was not a public place.

He said when he went to church he was coming from Rusape where he had transported cash of $2 000 to and when he returned, he went straight to church as his gun cabinet was in Nyamandlovu where he would have kept the firearm.

The weapon was identified as a BR NO C2 pistol and he had 14 rounds of ammunition on his arrest. He was found with $2 and R5 in his pockets.