Gushungo 'bombers' in another bid for freedom

The four men, including jailed Zimbabwe People's Front president Owen Kuchata, suspected of plotting to bomb the First Family's dairy farm in Mazowe, yesterday made a second application for their freedom.

The four – Kuchata, Borman Ngwenya, a soldier attached to military intelligence, Ngwenya Solomon Makumbe (29) a Zimbabwe National Army corporal and Silas-PFupa (37) an ex-soldier - are pushing for refusal of further remand.

They are facing treason charges and have been on remand since January last year.

The prosecutor Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa applied for postponement of the matter because the State was not able to indict the quartet for trial at the High Court in its first term. "I received a document from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), particularly from Mr Chris Mutangadura, indicating that the accused will be indicted in the second term of the High Court," said Mr Mutizirwa.

"The accused have another case which Makumbe and-PFupa referred to the Constitutional Court. Some of the facts that form the charge of possession of weaponry for sabotage are also part of this case. We await the ConCourt determination."

In March last year, Makumbe and-PFupa applied for referral of their matter to the ConCourt after the State reinstated the charges of possession of weaponry for sabotage, which had been earlier withdrawn before plea on the instructions of suspended Prosecutor-General Johannes Tomana.

Through their lawyers, the trio told the court that they were ready to proceed with oral submissions for their application, but the State has introduced new and different issues.

Makumbe and-PFupa are represented by Mrs Gamuchira Dzitiro, Ngwenya is represented by Mr Exactly Mangezi, while Kuchata is a self actor.

They said; "We were ready with oral submission for the application of refusal of further remand, but the State has introduced totally different issues. We will file our application by Friday."

The State undertook to respond by March 27 and Ms Chimboza will make a ruling on March 30.

Kuchata is serving nine years for banditry and money laundering.