FORMER MDC-T treasurer-general Elton Mangoma on Wednesday told the Bulawayo Magistrates Court that the vehicle grabbed by party vice-president Thokozani Khupe’s driver was not party property, but belonged to a private company. Silas Nkala
Mangoma was testifying in a case where Khupe’s driver, Witness Dube, and Kunashe Muchemwa are facing robbery and assault charges.
Bulawayo regional magistrate Mark Dzira heard that the two seized the vehicle from then MDC-T Matabeleland North provincial chairperson Sengezo Tshabangu’s driver Lameck Ndlovu on May 25 2014.
Mangoma produced a Laphonic Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd Company document whose directors are mostly MDC-T senior members. These include MDC-T secretary- general Douglas Mwonzora, treasurer-general Theresa Makone, Paurina Mpariwa, Chalton Hwende, former secretary-general Tendai Biti.
When Muganyi and Ngwenya asked if he knew anything about the robbery case, Mangoma said: “I was not present on the day. I was just told of the robbery by Zaccaria Nkomo .”
Mangoma has severed ties with the MDC-T and has since formed his own party, the Renewal Democrats of Zimbabwe.
Prosecutor Tinashe Dzipe applied for postponement of the case to allow him to call the Registrar of Companies to prove Laphonic’s ownership and that of the vehicle.
But the defence lawyers opposed the application saying there was no need for the State to call such a witness since the complainants failed to prove how they were robbed.
- 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
However, the magistrate ruled in the State’s favour saying it was important to prove the facts.
Dzira remanded the matter to August 19 to allow the State to invite the Registrar of Companies.
Dube and Muchemwa, who were represented by Tanaka Muganyi and Kholwani Ngwenya, are out of custody on $200 bail.
