Mangoma's case takes new twist

The alleged sex scandal in which Renewal Democrats of Zimbabwe leader (RDZ) Elton Mangoma was accused of having a sexual affair with a married woman took a new twist yesterday after three of Mangoma's bodyguards were hauled before the courts yesterday charged with assaulting the cuckolded husband.

Mangoma's bodyguards Nelson Mukwenha, 34, Rekai Toto, 29, Pardon Maingehama, 32, appeared before Harare magistrate Blessing Murwisi.

They all denied the charges. They will be back in the dock on September 1 for trial.

Prosecutor Tariro Gwatidzo alleged that on May 26 around 11am, Mukwenha, Toto and Maingehama approached Believe Tevera, who had visited MDC Renewal Team offices at 21 Midlothian Drive Eastlea in Harare, to petition the party leadership to investigate the matter in which he claimed Mangoma had an affair with his wife, 20-year-old Yemurai Maravanyika.

The MDC Renewal Team was having a meeting at the party headquarters when Tevera entered the offices intending to handover the petition to the party's national chairman Samuel Sipepa-Nkomo.

Nkomo had not yet arrived for the meeting and Tevera gave the letter to the party's national organising secretary Last Maengahama in the presence of Mangoma, who has since formed his new outfit RDZ.

When Tevera was leaving the offices, he noticed that the trio was advancing towards him and sought refuge in Tiki Mangara's taxi.

The court heard that Mukwenha, Toto and Maengahama dragged Tevera out of the taxi and started assaulting him.

According to State papers the trio was armed with a chain and assaulted Tevera with booted feet and clenched fists.

They allegedly fled the scene after the assault. Tevera had to be assisted to hospital for medical attention.