News / National
Mzila-Ndlovu case postponed
02 Jul 2013 at 20:26hrs | Views
THE trial of National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration Co-Minister Moses Mzila Ndlovu, who allegedly threatened to shoot two firewood poachers, before allegedly robbing them of $365, car keys, a cellphone and identity documents, failed to start on Monday at the Bulawayo regional court.
The trial was postponed to 8 July following an application by Mr Kucaca Phulu of Phulu and Ncube Legal Practitioners, who was standing in for Mzila Ndlovu's lawyer, Mr Matshobana Ncube of the same law firm.
Mzila Ndlovu was not asked to plead to armed robbery and theft charges when he appeared before regional magistrate, Mr Mark Dzira.
The prosecutor, Mr Goodluck Katenaire, said on 11 April at about 5pm, Mzila Ndlovu came across Vupenyu Gumbo and Lucky Dube poaching firewood on his farm situated near Mbokodo along the Bulawayo-Plumtree Road.
The court was told that Mzila Ndlovu pointed his .303 rifle (serial number 12698) at Gumbo and Dube demanding their property.
He then allegedly ordered the two men to lie down at gunpoint.
Vupenyu took out his wallet in order to hand over his licence.
However, the accused grabbed the wallet, which had $365, a driver's licence and three business cards.
Dube had no identity particulars on him. The accused also demanded the complainants' cellphones.
Vupenyu gave him his Samsung E250 with a NetOne sim card while Dube had no cellphone but had his house keys which Mzila Ndlovu took, the court was told.
Mzila Ndlovu allegedly later directed the two complainants to load the firewood onto their vehicle and follow him to his house and they pretended to follow him but diverted and drove to Emganwini police base where they made a report.
The two allegedly went back to the scene of the crime in the company of the police, but it was already dark.
Mzila Ndlovu was arrested on 19 May and property worth only $62 was recovered and the firearm was taken by the police and sent to the Forensic Ballistics for examination.
The trial was postponed to 8 July following an application by Mr Kucaca Phulu of Phulu and Ncube Legal Practitioners, who was standing in for Mzila Ndlovu's lawyer, Mr Matshobana Ncube of the same law firm.
Mzila Ndlovu was not asked to plead to armed robbery and theft charges when he appeared before regional magistrate, Mr Mark Dzira.
The prosecutor, Mr Goodluck Katenaire, said on 11 April at about 5pm, Mzila Ndlovu came across Vupenyu Gumbo and Lucky Dube poaching firewood on his farm situated near Mbokodo along the Bulawayo-Plumtree Road.
The court was told that Mzila Ndlovu pointed his .303 rifle (serial number 12698) at Gumbo and Dube demanding their property.
He then allegedly ordered the two men to lie down at gunpoint.
Vupenyu took out his wallet in order to hand over his licence.
Dube had no identity particulars on him. The accused also demanded the complainants' cellphones.
Vupenyu gave him his Samsung E250 with a NetOne sim card while Dube had no cellphone but had his house keys which Mzila Ndlovu took, the court was told.
Mzila Ndlovu allegedly later directed the two complainants to load the firewood onto their vehicle and follow him to his house and they pretended to follow him but diverted and drove to Emganwini police base where they made a report.
The two allegedly went back to the scene of the crime in the company of the police, but it was already dark.
Mzila Ndlovu was arrested on 19 May and property worth only $62 was recovered and the firearm was taken by the police and sent to the Forensic Ballistics for examination.
Source - Chronicle
