Dexter Nduna has case to answer

THE court has indicated that legislator, Dexter Nduna, has a case to answer in a matter he is alleged to have illegally prospected for gold at David Whitehead's waste dump site in Chegutu sometime in November 2019.

Regional magistrate Mr Stanford Mambanje noted that Nduna and his two alleged accomplices, Wonder Chisikwa and Tawanda Marufu, have a case to answer and dismissed their application for discharge at the close of the State's case.

Nduna, Chisikwa and Marufu were jointly appearing with Vengai Musengi and Nyasha Nyikadzino at Chinhoyi Magistrates Court.

In dismissing their application, Mr Mambanje said: "At this stage of proceedings, the simple question is, on the record is there evidence against accused person which requires a reply from him?

"I take the view that indeed there is evidence before the court, that is, accused 1, 2 and 4 (Nduna, Chisikwa and Marufu) are connected to the extraction of the mineral ore, that is, prospecting.

"None has produced licence or permit for it. While accused 2 (Chisikwa) was not at the scene, his involvement is quite distinct, making him an accomplice through common purpose."

Mr Mambanje said the evidence of facts placed before the trial court clearly establish that the applicants, particularly Nduna, Chisikwa and Marufu, are "quite connected to the offence".

"In my view, the State has placed its evidence before the court, which evidence to a reasonable court raises questions about accused conduct.

"In view of the questionable conduct, the court should place the three accused persons to their defense since what was before the court was no doubt a prima facie case."

However, Mr Mambanje discharged and acquitted Musengi and Nyikadzino, who were jointly charged with Nduna, Chisikwa and Marufu.

Musengi, who was being represented by lawyer Mr Admire Rubaya, successfully applied for discharge at the close of the State case saying there was no evidence linking him to the offence.

He told the court that there was no evidence that proved he was involved in the loading of ore into the JCB.

"The State has failed to link the 3rd accused (Musengi) to what is alleged to be the actus reus (the act or omission that comprise the physical elements of a crime as required by statute). There is no evidence that the accused person was linked to the loading of the JCB neither is there evidence that shows that he attended a meeting wherein it is allegedly agreed that a JCB be hired for the purposes of extracting mineral ore," he said.

He also told the court that all the State witnesses failed to link him with the offence.

Musengi, through Mr Rubaya, said in his application that the State should not attempt to extract evidence from him and strengthen its case against him.

"The court should not get tempted to invoke powers of any nature to seek to assist the State by ordering accused to his defence for purposes of bolstering the State's case and or remedy the shortcomings of how the State's case was presented," he said.