Nkomo aide to know fate in two weeks

News
FORMER Zipra commander and the late Vice-President John Landa Nkomo’s chief security officer Eddie Sigoge’s judgment could be delivered in two weeks’ time when he is expected to have been released from hospital.

FORMER Zipra commander and the late Vice-President John Landa Nkomo’s chief security officer Eddie Sigoge’s judgment could be delivered in two weeks’ time when he is expected to have been released from hospital.

SENIOR COURT REPORTER

Sigoge is currently admitted at Mater Dei Hospital in Bulawayo where he is nursing two operations to his hip.

Sigoge is facing attempted murder charges after allegedly shooting and wounding one person in a farm dispute in the Gwayi Conservancy five years ago.

The farm dispute was between Nkomo and Langton Masunda.

Sigoge was supposed to appear on Monday for judgment, but could not attend. Hwange regional magistrate for the Western Division, Dambudzo Malunga had to issue a warrant for his arrest.

However, Sigoge’s lawyer Tanaka Muganyi yesterday said his client would attend court after two weeks as his condition was serious. “He had two operations on the hip. We expect that he could be discharged after two weeks and that’s when he could attend court. His condition is serious,” he said.

Sigoge (66), a retired army colonel from Lobengula West in Bulawayo, is accused of shooting Patrick Masunda, the brother to Langton, and firing shots at a vehicle with seven other occupants who were ferrying the injured Patrick to hospital.

Nkomo’ dispute with Langton was over the ownership of Jijima Lodge and the 611,79-hectare safari farm it is situated on.

Sigoge pleaded not guilty to eight counts of attempted murder and unlawful possession of a firearm.

The shooting took place on May 9 2009 and Nkomo was only granted ownership of the farm on May 2 2012 by the Supreme Court.

Prosecutor Sifelumusa Fuzane said Sigoge had quarrelled with Patrick on May 9 2009 over the occupation of Jijima Lodge.

Patrick wanted Sigoge and dozens of Nkomo’s employees to vacate the property insisting that they were trespassing. The State said Sigoge pulled out a Browning pistol and shot Patrick four times in the pelvis area.

After the shooting, Patrick was picked up by seven of his colleagues to rush him to hospital and Sigoge allegedly shot at the vehicle putting the occupants in danger.