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Didymus Mutasa nails Zanu-PF bigwigs accused of stealing Mugabe's cows
23 Apr 2013 at 05:33hrs | Views
ZANU-PF secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa on Monday dismissed state accusations that the party's former Manicaland provincial chairman, Mike Madiro, and the party's acting women league's chairperson, Dorothy Mabika, who allegedly stole 10 beasts donated for celebrations to mark President Robert Mugabe's birthday last year, are political victims.
Mutasa said it was untrue that the two were being politically persecuted by heavy weights in the province.
The Zanu-PF secretary for administration told a packed courtroom he had nothing against Madiro and Mabika who pleaded not guilty to stocktheft charges.
In his testimony, Mutasa said the duo erred by not disclosing the cattle to the party as well as slaughtering three of the beasts for an event other than the 21st Movement celebrations for which they were meant.
He said the party expects accountability and Madiro, as the provincial chairman, must have disclosed everything that had been bought or donated towards the celebrations including the balance which the party normally donates to charity.
"If those cattle were secured for the 21st February celebrations and they ended up being used for another function without the party's knowledge that is an offence. As the national secretary for administration I should have been told of these developments," he said.
Mutasa dispelled assertions by the defence lawyer that all this revolved around political persecution.
"That is not correct. They (Madiro and Mabika) did wrong and that is why we are in court. They are all my friends and I believe we are friends," he said.
The State also called Zanu-PF national youth league chairman Absolom Sikhosana as well as businessman and politician Supa Mandiwanzira.
The duo, through their lawyer, Mr Tinofara Hove of T.K Hove and Partners, pleaded not guilty to the charges when the trial began before Mutare provincial magistrate, Mrs Lucie-Anne Mungwari.
Allegations are that they received the cattle from Mr John Chirimambowa of Farm 39, Middle Sabi in Chipinge which they did not hand over to the party. Mr Hove, in his defence outline, maintained that his clients, who are on US$150 bail each, are innocent.
He said the fictitious allegations raised against them were a result of political persecution revolving around factionalism in the Zanu-PF provincial structures in Manicaland.
Mutasa said it was untrue that the two were being politically persecuted by heavy weights in the province.
The Zanu-PF secretary for administration told a packed courtroom he had nothing against Madiro and Mabika who pleaded not guilty to stocktheft charges.
In his testimony, Mutasa said the duo erred by not disclosing the cattle to the party as well as slaughtering three of the beasts for an event other than the 21st Movement celebrations for which they were meant.
He said the party expects accountability and Madiro, as the provincial chairman, must have disclosed everything that had been bought or donated towards the celebrations including the balance which the party normally donates to charity.
"If those cattle were secured for the 21st February celebrations and they ended up being used for another function without the party's knowledge that is an offence. As the national secretary for administration I should have been told of these developments," he said.
"That is not correct. They (Madiro and Mabika) did wrong and that is why we are in court. They are all my friends and I believe we are friends," he said.
The State also called Zanu-PF national youth league chairman Absolom Sikhosana as well as businessman and politician Supa Mandiwanzira.
The duo, through their lawyer, Mr Tinofara Hove of T.K Hove and Partners, pleaded not guilty to the charges when the trial began before Mutare provincial magistrate, Mrs Lucie-Anne Mungwari.
Allegations are that they received the cattle from Mr John Chirimambowa of Farm 39, Middle Sabi in Chipinge which they did not hand over to the party. Mr Hove, in his defence outline, maintained that his clients, who are on US$150 bail each, are innocent.
He said the fictitious allegations raised against them were a result of political persecution revolving around factionalism in the Zanu-PF provincial structures in Manicaland.
Source - news
