News / National
Gushungo bomber was a CIO operative
16 Apr 2016 at 13:35hrs | Views
ZIMBABWE National Army member, Borman Ngwenya yesterday said his alleged accomplice, Owen Kuchata, in the foiled Gushungo Dairy bombing, claimed to be a central intelligence officer when they first met at the National Sports Stadium during last year's Defence Forces Day.
Ngwenya said this as he opened his defence case in the on-going trial, where he is charged with banditry and money-laundering. He was jointly charged with Kuchata, the president of little known opposition political party, Zimbabwe People Front.
Kuchata has since been convicted on his own plea of guilty and was sentenced to nine years in prison.
Ngwenya said he first met Kuchata when he visited the heavy artillery display area, where he [Ngwenya] was in charge at the stadium.
"Kuchata claimed he was an intelligence officer (CIO) when he came to the artillery display where I was in charge.
That was after I had told him that he was not allowed to take photographs of the display," Ngwenya said.
He told the court the two became acquaintances after they discovered they came from the same rural area, Gokwe, during their conversation.
Ngwenya said the two got closer after he facilitated Kuchata's relationship with a female soldier, Rumbidzai Matsenga, who was also part of the display team.
It is from this liaison that we frequently communicated, as Kuchata asked me to keep an eye on his girlfriend, the court was told.
Ngwenya further told the court that around October, while on leave, he was arrested by military police on allegations he was working with Kuchata, in opposition politics.
"After spending a night in the cells, I was taken to 2 Intelligence Company (army investigations) by Sergeant Mahachi and Solomon Makumbe, where they showed me Kuchata's photograph and asked if I knew him," he said.
"Mahachi produced a print-out of my call records, which showed I was communicating with Kuchata, an opposition activist."
Ngwenya told the court he confirmed knowing Kuchata and they communicated on the phone because they came from the same area and the relationship he had with Matsanga.
Trial magistrate, Fadzai Mthomeni adjourned the hearing, while Ngwenya was still being led through his evidence by defence lawyer Exactly Mangezi.
Michael Reza is prosecuting the case.
Ngwenya said this as he opened his defence case in the on-going trial, where he is charged with banditry and money-laundering. He was jointly charged with Kuchata, the president of little known opposition political party, Zimbabwe People Front.
Kuchata has since been convicted on his own plea of guilty and was sentenced to nine years in prison.
Ngwenya said he first met Kuchata when he visited the heavy artillery display area, where he [Ngwenya] was in charge at the stadium.
"Kuchata claimed he was an intelligence officer (CIO) when he came to the artillery display where I was in charge.
That was after I had told him that he was not allowed to take photographs of the display," Ngwenya said.
He told the court the two became acquaintances after they discovered they came from the same rural area, Gokwe, during their conversation.
Ngwenya said the two got closer after he facilitated Kuchata's relationship with a female soldier, Rumbidzai Matsenga, who was also part of the display team.
It is from this liaison that we frequently communicated, as Kuchata asked me to keep an eye on his girlfriend, the court was told.
Ngwenya further told the court that around October, while on leave, he was arrested by military police on allegations he was working with Kuchata, in opposition politics.
"After spending a night in the cells, I was taken to 2 Intelligence Company (army investigations) by Sergeant Mahachi and Solomon Makumbe, where they showed me Kuchata's photograph and asked if I knew him," he said.
"Mahachi produced a print-out of my call records, which showed I was communicating with Kuchata, an opposition activist."
Ngwenya told the court he confirmed knowing Kuchata and they communicated on the phone because they came from the same area and the relationship he had with Matsanga.
Trial magistrate, Fadzai Mthomeni adjourned the hearing, while Ngwenya was still being led through his evidence by defence lawyer Exactly Mangezi.
Michael Reza is prosecuting the case.
Source - newsday
