News / Regional
Zanu-PF activist murder trial stalled
14 Jan 2015 at 06:30hrs | Views
THE trial of a Zanu-PF activist, who allegedly killed an MDC member in 2002 accusing him of being a sellout because his daughters were Morgan Tsvangirai's election agents in the presidential election that year, failed to take off yesterday.
The man was reportedly arrested early last year in Beitbridge after almost 12 years on the run.
The trial failed to take off after the man's lawyer advised the State yesterday that the accused claimed to have been sentenced and served a jail term for the same offence.
Samson Masuku of Beitbridge was among six other suspects - Boy Ndlovu, Cephas Muleya, Ben Tshidino Ndou, Musa Ndou, Siphiwe Sibanda and Thembelani Ngulube - who allegedly killed Nelson Nare Ngale Mudau at his home accusing him of being a sellout.
Following his arrest in March last year, Masuku appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Sibongile Msipa Marondedze, who referred the matter to the Bulawayo High Court.
He has been in remand since then and yesterday he was expected to appear before Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Maxwell Takuva on a murder charge.
Masuku's case did not sit after the State was advised that the accused had claimed to have served for the same offence and he said he never disappeared as had been claimed since his arrest.
He advised his defence that he never left his home until the day he was arrested and claims he was on the run were false.
The State has been tasked with the responsibility of verifying his claims to find out if he was ever sentenced and served for the same offence before a trial could be held.
Three other alleged accomplices - Ndlovu, Ben Ndou and Muleya - were arrested in 2013 and charged with murder, but were later convicted of a lesser charge of culpable homicide and jailed.
Ngulube is reportedly still at large, while Musa Ndou and Sibanda are now deceased.
Allegations against the suspected Zanu-PF activists were that on March 16 2002 they ganged up and went to Mudau's homestead in the Masera area of Beitbridge and accused him and his family of being members of the MDC.
The man was reportedly arrested early last year in Beitbridge after almost 12 years on the run.
The trial failed to take off after the man's lawyer advised the State yesterday that the accused claimed to have been sentenced and served a jail term for the same offence.
Samson Masuku of Beitbridge was among six other suspects - Boy Ndlovu, Cephas Muleya, Ben Tshidino Ndou, Musa Ndou, Siphiwe Sibanda and Thembelani Ngulube - who allegedly killed Nelson Nare Ngale Mudau at his home accusing him of being a sellout.
Following his arrest in March last year, Masuku appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Sibongile Msipa Marondedze, who referred the matter to the Bulawayo High Court.
He has been in remand since then and yesterday he was expected to appear before Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Maxwell Takuva on a murder charge.
He advised his defence that he never left his home until the day he was arrested and claims he was on the run were false.
The State has been tasked with the responsibility of verifying his claims to find out if he was ever sentenced and served for the same offence before a trial could be held.
Three other alleged accomplices - Ndlovu, Ben Ndou and Muleya - were arrested in 2013 and charged with murder, but were later convicted of a lesser charge of culpable homicide and jailed.
Ngulube is reportedly still at large, while Musa Ndou and Sibanda are now deceased.
Allegations against the suspected Zanu-PF activists were that on March 16 2002 they ganged up and went to Mudau's homestead in the Masera area of Beitbridge and accused him and his family of being members of the MDC.
Source - Southern Eye
