Gono implicated

Former Bikita West legislator Munyaradzi Kereke, who is serving a 10-year jail term, yesterday again accused ex-Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono of being behind his imprisonment over rape charges.

He claimed his former boss influenced the girl's guardian to pursue the rape matter by offering him tractors.

Kereke made the remarks through his lawyers, Advocate Thabani Mpofu, who was assisted by Advocate Sylvester Hashiti, while urging High Court judge Justice Happias Zhou to grant him bail pending appeal.

Judgment was provisionally set for October 7.

Mpofu said Kereke did not commit the alleged rape on an 11-year-old girl as alleged by the State, but was incriminated due to political interference and Gono's involvement in the plot.