News / Local
6 MDC-T members aligned to Tsvangirai on the run
31 May 2014 at 06:38hrs | Views
AT least six MDC-T members aligned to party leader Morgan Tsvangirai are on the run on alleged robbery and theft charges after they hijacked a vehicle belonging to Matabeleland North provincial chairman Sengezo Tshabangu.
Tshabangu is believed to be aligned to the leadership renewal camp led by secretary general, Tendai Biti.
One of the suspects, Witness Dube, 37, a driver for party vice-president Thokozani Khupe, appeared in court yesterday charged with robbery and theft of Tshabangu's vehicle.
Prosecutors say Dube, believed to be from the Tsvangirai camp, and six other party members, pounced on Tshabangu's driver along Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street and assaulted him before taking away the vehicle.
Tshabangu is on suspension reportedly for sympathising with Biti and ousted deputy treasurer general Elton Mangoma on their calls for Tsvangirai's ouster.
Yesterday the court was packed as party members including Bulawayo deputy mayor Gift Banda, Tshabangu and Tsholotsho North MP Roselyne Sipepa Nkomo followed proceedings.
There was commotion when the presiding magistrate Sibongile Msipa refused to attend to the case saying the charge was not properly phrased.
"It's impossible. There's something wrong with the charge. Please correct it before we proceed. You can't say he's facing a plain robbery charge yet he stole a vehicle," blasted Msipa.
"If you don't change it you'll have to take it to another court."
Prosecutors and police officers had to run around trying to rectify the anomaly, delaying proceedings by about 30 minutes.
Court documents indicate that Dube and his gang allegedly assaulted party members Zaccaria Nkomo, the driver, Lameck Ndlovu and Sage Mguni who were in the parked Isuzu truck. He then drove the vehicle away last Sunday.
Prosecuting, Danmore Kasenza said: "On May 25, 2014, Zaccaria Nkomo was in the company of Lameck Ndlovu and Sage Mguni in an Isuzu pick up truck. They parked waiting to collect money from a Sibanda on behalf of Tshabangu. Sibanda came and gave the three the money and left.
"Two cars immediately blocked Ndlovu's car and Dube, who was in the company of six other people who are still at large, pulled Ndlovu out of the car and started assaulting him with fists and booted feet all over his body."
Kasenza said Dube and his accomplices took away Blackberry and a Nokia 1202 cellphones and cash, all valued at $300 and the car valued at $30,350.
A report was made to the police, leading to Dube's arrest.
He was remanded in custody to Monday when he would apply for bail through his lawyer Emmanuel Mlalazi of Dube, Banda, Nzarayapenga Legal Practitioners.
Tshabangu told Chronicle that all the stolen property was yet to be recovered.
He said he has made a High Court application for the reinstatement of the car since he was the rightful owner of the vehicle.
Tshabangu is believed to be aligned to the leadership renewal camp led by secretary general, Tendai Biti.
One of the suspects, Witness Dube, 37, a driver for party vice-president Thokozani Khupe, appeared in court yesterday charged with robbery and theft of Tshabangu's vehicle.
Prosecutors say Dube, believed to be from the Tsvangirai camp, and six other party members, pounced on Tshabangu's driver along Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street and assaulted him before taking away the vehicle.
Tshabangu is on suspension reportedly for sympathising with Biti and ousted deputy treasurer general Elton Mangoma on their calls for Tsvangirai's ouster.
Yesterday the court was packed as party members including Bulawayo deputy mayor Gift Banda, Tshabangu and Tsholotsho North MP Roselyne Sipepa Nkomo followed proceedings.
There was commotion when the presiding magistrate Sibongile Msipa refused to attend to the case saying the charge was not properly phrased.
"It's impossible. There's something wrong with the charge. Please correct it before we proceed. You can't say he's facing a plain robbery charge yet he stole a vehicle," blasted Msipa.
"If you don't change it you'll have to take it to another court."
Prosecutors and police officers had to run around trying to rectify the anomaly, delaying proceedings by about 30 minutes.
Court documents indicate that Dube and his gang allegedly assaulted party members Zaccaria Nkomo, the driver, Lameck Ndlovu and Sage Mguni who were in the parked Isuzu truck. He then drove the vehicle away last Sunday.
Prosecuting, Danmore Kasenza said: "On May 25, 2014, Zaccaria Nkomo was in the company of Lameck Ndlovu and Sage Mguni in an Isuzu pick up truck. They parked waiting to collect money from a Sibanda on behalf of Tshabangu. Sibanda came and gave the three the money and left.
"Two cars immediately blocked Ndlovu's car and Dube, who was in the company of six other people who are still at large, pulled Ndlovu out of the car and started assaulting him with fists and booted feet all over his body."
Kasenza said Dube and his accomplices took away Blackberry and a Nokia 1202 cellphones and cash, all valued at $300 and the car valued at $30,350.
A report was made to the police, leading to Dube's arrest.
He was remanded in custody to Monday when he would apply for bail through his lawyer Emmanuel Mlalazi of Dube, Banda, Nzarayapenga Legal Practitioners.
Tshabangu told Chronicle that all the stolen property was yet to be recovered.
He said he has made a High Court application for the reinstatement of the car since he was the rightful owner of the vehicle.
Source - chronicle
