News / National
'Tsvangirai's chief elections agent might have stolen ballot papers'
19 Sep 2013 at 04:12hrs | Views
ZEC deputy director of public relations Mr Tendai Pamire yesterday indicated that MDC-T deputy national chairman Morgan Komichi might have stolen the ballot papers from ZEC security.
Speaking during cross-examination by Komichi's lawyer, Mr Alec Muchadehama, Mr Pamire said that refusing to disclose his source's identity to the commission raised suspicion.
"Komichi refused to disclose the name of his source and we assumed that the person who was found with the ballot papers is the one who stole them.
"Until he discloses the person who gave him the papers, he is the one who stole the papers. In my opinion he is responsible and that is a fact," he said.
Mr Muchadehama then told Mr Pamire that Komichi actually told the police that he was given the ballot papers by Michael Phiri and that the envelope was not sealed.
In response Mr Pamire confirmed that Michael Phiri, an MDC-T election agent existed but he said that it was his first time to hear his name pertaining to the issue before the courts.
"Your worship, yes I know Michael Phiri because he attended several meetings with ZEC but my concern is why did this (his name) not come out in the meeting only to come out after police interrogation.
"If the accused person had good intentions, why did he disclose his source to the police without telling the commission, a board that he had been working with throughout the election period? I do not understand this," Mr Pamire said.
As the cross-examination progressed, Mr Muchadehama said that Komichi did not disclose his source's name for security reasons adding that the commission wanted his name so as to cause his arrest.
Mr Pamire further said that it was mind boggling that the said source only picked one envelope from a bin which they alleged was full.
"Mr Komichi only wanted to tarnish the image of the commission and however if he had succeeded in convincing the nation that the elections were chaotic, this could have had disastrous consequences to this country.
Mr Muchadehama said his client was of the view that the just ended harmonised elections were chaotic and in response Mr Pamire said it was just one voice over the whole of Africa adding that he regarded the elections as peaceful.
Mr Pamire then signed out after being cross-examined for close to three weeks by saying that a responsible citizen would have furnished the commission with all the relevant information so that the culprit is brought to book.
The State then called its third witness Shamiso Chahuruva the commission's chief legal officer who confirmed that Komichi approached the commission with an unsealed envelope containing ballot papers.
She said that Komichi indicated to the commission that the ballots were sealed when they were handed to him but later opened them out of curiosity.
The trial continues today before magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe.
Charges against Komichi arose on July 28, after he allegedly misrepresented that a sealed tamper-proof envelope with a special vote ballot paper had been picked at the Harare International Conference Centre where the special vote was being processed.
Speaking during cross-examination by Komichi's lawyer, Mr Alec Muchadehama, Mr Pamire said that refusing to disclose his source's identity to the commission raised suspicion.
"Komichi refused to disclose the name of his source and we assumed that the person who was found with the ballot papers is the one who stole them.
"Until he discloses the person who gave him the papers, he is the one who stole the papers. In my opinion he is responsible and that is a fact," he said.
Mr Muchadehama then told Mr Pamire that Komichi actually told the police that he was given the ballot papers by Michael Phiri and that the envelope was not sealed.
In response Mr Pamire confirmed that Michael Phiri, an MDC-T election agent existed but he said that it was his first time to hear his name pertaining to the issue before the courts.
"Your worship, yes I know Michael Phiri because he attended several meetings with ZEC but my concern is why did this (his name) not come out in the meeting only to come out after police interrogation.
"If the accused person had good intentions, why did he disclose his source to the police without telling the commission, a board that he had been working with throughout the election period? I do not understand this," Mr Pamire said.
Mr Pamire further said that it was mind boggling that the said source only picked one envelope from a bin which they alleged was full.
"Mr Komichi only wanted to tarnish the image of the commission and however if he had succeeded in convincing the nation that the elections were chaotic, this could have had disastrous consequences to this country.
Mr Muchadehama said his client was of the view that the just ended harmonised elections were chaotic and in response Mr Pamire said it was just one voice over the whole of Africa adding that he regarded the elections as peaceful.
Mr Pamire then signed out after being cross-examined for close to three weeks by saying that a responsible citizen would have furnished the commission with all the relevant information so that the culprit is brought to book.
The State then called its third witness Shamiso Chahuruva the commission's chief legal officer who confirmed that Komichi approached the commission with an unsealed envelope containing ballot papers.
She said that Komichi indicated to the commission that the ballots were sealed when they were handed to him but later opened them out of curiosity.
The trial continues today before magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe.
Charges against Komichi arose on July 28, after he allegedly misrepresented that a sealed tamper-proof envelope with a special vote ballot paper had been picked at the Harare International Conference Centre where the special vote was being processed.
Source - herald
