News / National
Beatrice Mtetwa, MDC-T officials trial continues today
20 Mar 2013 at 05:00hrs | Views
The four MDC-T officials arrested on Sunday appeared in court yesterday accused of compiling "dockets" against Government officials they accused of being corrupt and were remanded in custody to today for continuation of their bail application.
Defence lawyer Mr Alec Muchadehama told the Harare Magistrate Courts where the four appeared that they could have been compiling the documents for Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. He said if they were assigned by Mr Tsvangirai to do so, then the State should call him to court to testify.
Thabani Mpofu, Felix Matsinde and Mehluli Tshuma together with a former Harare councillor Warship Dumba were also facing charges of impersonating the police, possessing articles for criminal use and breaching the Official Secrets Act.
Mpofu is facing two additional charges of contravening the Firearms Act after he failed to renew his firearm certificate and did not secure it adequately.
Harare lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa, arrested together with the four, and is facing charges of obstructing the course of justice by trying to stop the arrests appeared before the same court yesterday and was remanded in custody.
Defence lawyers said their clients indicated in their statements that they were being accused of compiling criminal documents against Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo, Mhondoro-Ngezi legislator Bright Matonga, Attorney General Johannes Tomana, his deputy Mrs Florence Ziyambi, law officer Mr Michael Mugabe and area public prosecutor Mr Jonathan Murombedzi.
Businesswoman Mrs Jane Mutasa, Ms Beauty Basile and Mr Charles Muchemwa were also implicated. Mr Mugabe, who was representing the State, said the four had documents with police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri's background and another written "Case for a full investigation into the Ministry of Lands system of issuing offer letters 1 September 2009".
Mr Muchadehama and Mr Chris Mhike appeared for Mpofu, Matsinde,Tshuma and Dumba, while Mtetwa was represented by Advocate Thabani Mpofu, Mr Harrison Nkomo and Mr Dzimbabwe Chimbga.
Mr Mugabe was assisted by prosecutors Mr Michael Reza and Mr Tungamirai Chakurira.
Advocate Mpofu made an application challenging Mtetwa's placement on remand, arguing that she was improperly brought before the court.
Justice Charles Hungwe had ordered Mtetwa's release in the early hours of Monday following an urgent chamber application by the defence team.
In response, Mr Reza said: "Prior to the order, the State was supposed to submit its opposing affidavit within 10 days of the date when the order was granted. The State deposed its opposing affidavit within hours of that order well within the 10-day period."
Mr Reza said Mtetwa's lawyers approached the High Court alleging contempt of court against the police and not against the court.
"That application has since been dismissed by another judge for lack of merit. This therefore means that the accused person who is now in the custody of the court, is properly before this court," he said.
Magistrate Ms Marehwanazvo Gofa ruled that the court could not order Mtetwa's release because she was properly before the court.
Mr Mugabe, opposing the MDC-T officials' application for bail, submitted that they were facing a very serious offence.
He said that the quartet was likely to abscond or interfere with investigations since some of their alleged accomplices were said to be still at large.
Mr Mugabe said police were yet to recover some materials that were taken to unknown destinations by the accused.
But Mr Muchadehama said his clients were suitable candidates for bail and argued that Mr Mugabe should not prosecute since his name was mentioned in the case.
Allegations against the four arose on March 17 when detectives received information that they were in possession of dockets they were privately compiling to discredit the judicial system.
It is alleged the dockets contained information that the police and the AG had failed or refused to investigate cases of corruption involving prominent people in Government.
A team of detectives went to Mpofu's residence and found some of the documents, including a laptop and a pistol.
The State alleges that the suspects indicated that they were legal advisors to the PM and researching on corruption and criminal abuse of office and the appointment Comm-Gen Chihuri.
Investigations also revealed that the accused are being bankrolled by Institute of Democratic Alliance of Zimbabwe, the court heard.
Defence lawyer Mr Alec Muchadehama told the Harare Magistrate Courts where the four appeared that they could have been compiling the documents for Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. He said if they were assigned by Mr Tsvangirai to do so, then the State should call him to court to testify.
Thabani Mpofu, Felix Matsinde and Mehluli Tshuma together with a former Harare councillor Warship Dumba were also facing charges of impersonating the police, possessing articles for criminal use and breaching the Official Secrets Act.
Mpofu is facing two additional charges of contravening the Firearms Act after he failed to renew his firearm certificate and did not secure it adequately.
Harare lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa, arrested together with the four, and is facing charges of obstructing the course of justice by trying to stop the arrests appeared before the same court yesterday and was remanded in custody.
Defence lawyers said their clients indicated in their statements that they were being accused of compiling criminal documents against Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo, Mhondoro-Ngezi legislator Bright Matonga, Attorney General Johannes Tomana, his deputy Mrs Florence Ziyambi, law officer Mr Michael Mugabe and area public prosecutor Mr Jonathan Murombedzi.
Businesswoman Mrs Jane Mutasa, Ms Beauty Basile and Mr Charles Muchemwa were also implicated. Mr Mugabe, who was representing the State, said the four had documents with police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri's background and another written "Case for a full investigation into the Ministry of Lands system of issuing offer letters 1 September 2009".
Mr Muchadehama and Mr Chris Mhike appeared for Mpofu, Matsinde,Tshuma and Dumba, while Mtetwa was represented by Advocate Thabani Mpofu, Mr Harrison Nkomo and Mr Dzimbabwe Chimbga.
Mr Mugabe was assisted by prosecutors Mr Michael Reza and Mr Tungamirai Chakurira.
Advocate Mpofu made an application challenging Mtetwa's placement on remand, arguing that she was improperly brought before the court.
Justice Charles Hungwe had ordered Mtetwa's release in the early hours of Monday following an urgent chamber application by the defence team.
In response, Mr Reza said: "Prior to the order, the State was supposed to submit its opposing affidavit within 10 days of the date when the order was granted. The State deposed its opposing affidavit within hours of that order well within the 10-day period."
"That application has since been dismissed by another judge for lack of merit. This therefore means that the accused person who is now in the custody of the court, is properly before this court," he said.
Magistrate Ms Marehwanazvo Gofa ruled that the court could not order Mtetwa's release because she was properly before the court.
Mr Mugabe, opposing the MDC-T officials' application for bail, submitted that they were facing a very serious offence.
He said that the quartet was likely to abscond or interfere with investigations since some of their alleged accomplices were said to be still at large.
Mr Mugabe said police were yet to recover some materials that were taken to unknown destinations by the accused.
But Mr Muchadehama said his clients were suitable candidates for bail and argued that Mr Mugabe should not prosecute since his name was mentioned in the case.
Allegations against the four arose on March 17 when detectives received information that they were in possession of dockets they were privately compiling to discredit the judicial system.
It is alleged the dockets contained information that the police and the AG had failed or refused to investigate cases of corruption involving prominent people in Government.
A team of detectives went to Mpofu's residence and found some of the documents, including a laptop and a pistol.
The State alleges that the suspects indicated that they were legal advisors to the PM and researching on corruption and criminal abuse of office and the appointment Comm-Gen Chihuri.
Investigations also revealed that the accused are being bankrolled by Institute of Democratic Alliance of Zimbabwe, the court heard.
Source - TH
