News / Local
Former Minister's robbery case suffers setback
19 Feb 2014 at 17:05hrs | Views
FORMER National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration co-minister Moses Mzila-Ndlovu who is charged with armed robbery and theft of property worth $427 has to wait until 24 February for a ruling.
His case was supposed to be heard today (Wednesday) but the magistrate handling that case deferred ruling because his lawyer Matshobana Ncube of Phulu and Ncube Legal Practitioners, was absent as he was representing another client at the High Court.
The High Court takes precedence over the Magistrates Court where Mzila's case is being heard.
In an interview with Radio Dialogue soon after coming out of court, Mzila-Ndlovu said his lawyer wrote a letter to the magistrate and attached a memo informing him why he was unable to be present for the ruling.
"However the magistrate did not want to make a ruling in the absence of my legal representative. We kept going in and out of court, as the magistrate hoped my layer would eventually be free," he said.
Unfortunately for Mzila-Ndlovu when his lawyer became available, the magistrate had to rush to Masvingo for urgent family business.
He faces two counts of contravening Section 126 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (Armed Robbery) and Section 113 (1) of the same Act (Theft).
"In that on April 11 and at Magazine Farm opposite Mbokodo, Plumtree, Moses Mzila-Ndlovu unlawfully and intentionally used violence or threats of violence, that is to say Moses Mzila-Ndlovu pointed his 303 rifle serial number 12698 at Vupenyu Gumbo demanding his property and induced Vupenyu Gumbo to relinquish lawful control over his driver's licence, business cards, Samsung cellphone E250 and cash amounting to $365," reads in part the State charge sheet.
Mzila-Ndlovu is accused of also pointing his firearm at Dube "demanding his property and induced Dube to relinquish lawful control over the keys to his house".
According to the State outline, the Bulilima West former legislator caught Vupenyu and Dube poaching firewood at his farm around 5pm and threatened to shoot them before allegedly robbing them.
Mzila-Ndlovu was arrested on May 19 and property worth only $62 was recovered.
His firearm was seized by the State and sent to the Forensic Ballistics for examination.
Mzila-Ndlovu denies both charges.
His case was supposed to be heard today (Wednesday) but the magistrate handling that case deferred ruling because his lawyer Matshobana Ncube of Phulu and Ncube Legal Practitioners, was absent as he was representing another client at the High Court.
The High Court takes precedence over the Magistrates Court where Mzila's case is being heard.
In an interview with Radio Dialogue soon after coming out of court, Mzila-Ndlovu said his lawyer wrote a letter to the magistrate and attached a memo informing him why he was unable to be present for the ruling.
"However the magistrate did not want to make a ruling in the absence of my legal representative. We kept going in and out of court, as the magistrate hoped my layer would eventually be free," he said.
Unfortunately for Mzila-Ndlovu when his lawyer became available, the magistrate had to rush to Masvingo for urgent family business.
He faces two counts of contravening Section 126 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (Armed Robbery) and Section 113 (1) of the same Act (Theft).
Mzila-Ndlovu is accused of also pointing his firearm at Dube "demanding his property and induced Dube to relinquish lawful control over the keys to his house".
According to the State outline, the Bulilima West former legislator caught Vupenyu and Dube poaching firewood at his farm around 5pm and threatened to shoot them before allegedly robbing them.
Mzila-Ndlovu was arrested on May 19 and property worth only $62 was recovered.
His firearm was seized by the State and sent to the Forensic Ballistics for examination.
Mzila-Ndlovu denies both charges.
Source - Radio Dialogue
