News / National
Mnangagwa fingered in Gumbura's coup de tat plot
08 Dec 2015 at 01:10hrs | Views
Jailed Independent End Time Message leader, Robert Martin Gumbura has been accused of planning to rope in Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa to stage a coup de tat on President Robert Mugabe.
The said coup to be staged by prisoners who would have escaped Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison, the court heard yesterday.
The coup was planned to coincide with President Robert Mugabe's trip in China and would have been blocked from returning to the country.
This was revealed by state witness Claudius Mutizwa who had earlier alleged Gumbura and his co-accused had planned a jail break with the assistance of former Vice-President Joice Mujuru, ex-prisoners and prison officers.
"After prisoners managed to escape, if they managed to escape, they were going to get hold of government officials while Mugabe was in China and get military weapons from various army and police bases," he said.
"The first target was then acting President Emmerson Mnangagwa and they also did not want Mugabe to land on his return from China."
However, Mutizwa contradicted his sworn statement to police that said Gumbura did nothing on the day in question when the alleged jail break attempt was made.
"It's the police officer who typed who made the mistake. I insist Gumbura was the mastermind of the jailbreak," he said during cross examination by Gumbura's lawyer, Tapson Dzvetero.
Mutizwa, a convict serving time for motor vehicle theft and impersonating a police officer, had earlier left the court in stitches when he insisted that proof of his evidence against the suspects was "their presence in the dock" and his testimony.
"I have tangible proof which is the first accused (Gumbura) in the dock and the other proof is myself giving evidence in this court," he said.
Gumbura is jointly charged with Blessing Chauke (25), Lucky Mhungu (38), Taurai Dodzo (47), Thomas Chacha (37), Thulani Chizema (32), Jacob Sibanda (28), Elijah Vhumbunu (38) and an armed robber, Lucky Matambanadzo (39).
Last week Gumbura is said to have communicated with former Vice President Joice Mujuru from prison cells through letters, strategising on how they were going to form their political party.
Mutizwa, a former police detective who once shared a jail cell with Gumbura was the allegations.
The said coup to be staged by prisoners who would have escaped Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison, the court heard yesterday.
The coup was planned to coincide with President Robert Mugabe's trip in China and would have been blocked from returning to the country.
This was revealed by state witness Claudius Mutizwa who had earlier alleged Gumbura and his co-accused had planned a jail break with the assistance of former Vice-President Joice Mujuru, ex-prisoners and prison officers.
"After prisoners managed to escape, if they managed to escape, they were going to get hold of government officials while Mugabe was in China and get military weapons from various army and police bases," he said.
"The first target was then acting President Emmerson Mnangagwa and they also did not want Mugabe to land on his return from China."
"It's the police officer who typed who made the mistake. I insist Gumbura was the mastermind of the jailbreak," he said during cross examination by Gumbura's lawyer, Tapson Dzvetero.
Mutizwa, a convict serving time for motor vehicle theft and impersonating a police officer, had earlier left the court in stitches when he insisted that proof of his evidence against the suspects was "their presence in the dock" and his testimony.
"I have tangible proof which is the first accused (Gumbura) in the dock and the other proof is myself giving evidence in this court," he said.
Gumbura is jointly charged with Blessing Chauke (25), Lucky Mhungu (38), Taurai Dodzo (47), Thomas Chacha (37), Thulani Chizema (32), Jacob Sibanda (28), Elijah Vhumbunu (38) and an armed robber, Lucky Matambanadzo (39).
Last week Gumbura is said to have communicated with former Vice President Joice Mujuru from prison cells through letters, strategising on how they were going to form their political party.
Mutizwa, a former police detective who once shared a jail cell with Gumbura was the allegations.
Source - NewsDay
