Tendai Biti to testify in Khupe driver's trial on robbery

TRIAL of Witness Dube, MDC-T vice-president Thokozani Khupe's driver Witness Dube and his alleged accomplice Kunashe Muchemwa on robbery and assault continues on March 23 when the MDC- Renewal Secreatry general Tendai Biti has been called to testify over the ownership of the vehicle which was allegedly taken by the accused from the former MDC-T Matabeleland North Chairman Sengezo Tshabangu.

Tshabangu is one of the former MDC-T members who ditched the party to form the MDC Renewal team which has now united with the MDC led by Welshman Ncube to form the United MDC.

Dube and Muchemwa are appearing before Bulawayo Regional Court magistrate Mark Dzira.

The two are out of custody of $200 bail each.

Dube of Gwabalanda and Muchemwa (32) of Old Luveve in Bulawayo represented by a lawyer Tanaka Muganyi denied the charges of robbery and assault before Dzira.

They are accused of being party of group of MDC-T youths who hijacked a party vehicle driven by Lameck Ndlovu which was allocated to the ousted MDC-T Matabeleland North chairperson Sengezo Tshabangu and assaulting him (Ndlovu).

The state represented by Tinashe Dzipe  alleges that on May 25 at 1pm Ndlovu was driving the said vehicle when two vehicles blocked him.

The group allegedly pulled Ndlovu out of the vehicle before assaulting and searched him  taking  a cellphone, $300 and car keys before driving off with the vehicle.

Ndlovu made a report to the police and Dube was later arrested.

Ndlovu, Nkomo, Mguni and Tshabangu have since filed an urgent High Court chamber application at the Bulawayo High Court seeking the return of the vehicle.

The High Court in June ruled in their favour ordering that the vehicle be returned.

The state has indicated that it will call Biti on march 23 to testify on the matter.