News / National
Tsvangirai aide granted $500 bail
13 Apr 2012 at 15:22hrs | Views
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's chief of protocol, Abisha Nyanguwo, accused of bombing Zanu-PF provincial offices in Gweru, has been granted a massive $500 bail pending trial by a Gweru magistrate.
The matter was postponed to 11 May 2012.
Nyanguwo (45) was arrested on Tuesday on allegations of bombing Zanu-PF provincial offices at Development House in Gweru on December 27 last year.
The State alleges Nyanguwo arrived at the Zanu-PF offices around 11:30pm and placed two explosives near the office entrance before igniting them.
He then allegedly drove off at high speed in his Isuzu KB truck, registration number ABA 6885, with the explosives going off soon after his departure.
The explosives allegedly destroyed property worth $900. Gweru magistrate Sithembinkosi Msipa deferred the bail ruling after the State opposed Nyanguwos application, arguing he was a flight risk and that detectives were still awaiting results of his fingerprint checks.
He was arrested earlier this week and has been detained at Gweru Central Police Station.
But Nyanguwos lawyer, Reginald Chidawanyika, argued that contrary to State claims, police had not made fingerprint checks on his client.
The investigating officer in the case, Detective Assistant Inspector Fred Navhaya, had sort the court to deny Nyanguwo baile because he could abscond to Botswana or the United Kingdom since he had previously visited the countries on several occasions.
But when it was indicated to him by Chidawanyika that police had not made fingerprint checks on Nyanguwo, Navhaya said it was an oversight on the part of the police. He also maintained that Nyanguwo could abscond despite assurances that he would surrender his passport.
On March 22 this year, armed police officers raided Nyanguwos residence in Harare, claiming they were searching for weapons of war and mass destruction before they impounded his Isuzu truck on allegations it was linked to the bombing incident.
Michael Mhene prosecuted.
In a statement issued today, MDC-T said it is surprising though, that Nyanguwo has been granted $500 bail for a dubious charge while police officers accused of murdering a Shamva mineworker in cold blood last month were yesterday granted a mere $50 bail at the High Court.
What makes the bail ruling even more outrageous is that Nyanguwo's case is being heard at the magistrate's court while the policemen's murder case is being handled at a higher court, meaning that the Shamva case is being trivialised.
The MDC, therefore, feels that Nyanguwo will not receive a fair trial as evidenced by proceedings that have been witnessed so far.
Nyanguwo first appeared before the Gweru magistrate yesterday morning but the bail hearing could not take off as there were no State witnesses. A police officer, Archford Tumbare who is based in Zhombe was then sought so as to nail down Nyanguwo.
Allegations against Nyanguwo are that; his vehicle was seen in Mvuma collecting explosives before going to Gweru where he ostensibly planted these at the Zanu-PF offices resulting in it blowing up in December last year.
The matter was postponed to 11 May 2012.
Nyanguwo (45) was arrested on Tuesday on allegations of bombing Zanu-PF provincial offices at Development House in Gweru on December 27 last year.
The State alleges Nyanguwo arrived at the Zanu-PF offices around 11:30pm and placed two explosives near the office entrance before igniting them.
He then allegedly drove off at high speed in his Isuzu KB truck, registration number ABA 6885, with the explosives going off soon after his departure.
The explosives allegedly destroyed property worth $900. Gweru magistrate Sithembinkosi Msipa deferred the bail ruling after the State opposed Nyanguwos application, arguing he was a flight risk and that detectives were still awaiting results of his fingerprint checks.
He was arrested earlier this week and has been detained at Gweru Central Police Station.
But Nyanguwos lawyer, Reginald Chidawanyika, argued that contrary to State claims, police had not made fingerprint checks on his client.
The investigating officer in the case, Detective Assistant Inspector Fred Navhaya, had sort the court to deny Nyanguwo baile because he could abscond to Botswana or the United Kingdom since he had previously visited the countries on several occasions.
But when it was indicated to him by Chidawanyika that police had not made fingerprint checks on Nyanguwo, Navhaya said it was an oversight on the part of the police. He also maintained that Nyanguwo could abscond despite assurances that he would surrender his passport.
On March 22 this year, armed police officers raided Nyanguwos residence in Harare, claiming they were searching for weapons of war and mass destruction before they impounded his Isuzu truck on allegations it was linked to the bombing incident.
Michael Mhene prosecuted.
In a statement issued today, MDC-T said it is surprising though, that Nyanguwo has been granted $500 bail for a dubious charge while police officers accused of murdering a Shamva mineworker in cold blood last month were yesterday granted a mere $50 bail at the High Court.
What makes the bail ruling even more outrageous is that Nyanguwo's case is being heard at the magistrate's court while the policemen's murder case is being handled at a higher court, meaning that the Shamva case is being trivialised.
The MDC, therefore, feels that Nyanguwo will not receive a fair trial as evidenced by proceedings that have been witnessed so far.
Nyanguwo first appeared before the Gweru magistrate yesterday morning but the bail hearing could not take off as there were no State witnesses. A police officer, Archford Tumbare who is based in Zhombe was then sought so as to nail down Nyanguwo.
Allegations against Nyanguwo are that; his vehicle was seen in Mvuma collecting explosives before going to Gweru where he ostensibly planted these at the Zanu-PF offices resulting in it blowing up in December last year.
Source - Byo24News
