Lumumba gets longer remand

Viva Zimbabwe president William Ace Lumumba Mutumanje, who is facing forgery allegations after being found in possession of an unregistered vehicle, was yesterday remanded to September 22 after the State indicated it was still carrying out extra-territorial investigations.

Lumumba is jointly charged with Tonderai Maposa and his lawyer, Advocate Webster Chinamhora, indicated he would make an application for refusal of further remand if the State fails to provide the trial date on the next hearing date.

Provincial magistrate Tendai Mahwe presided over the matter.

According to the State, on an unknown date, Lumumba and Maposa were in possession of a Toyota Ipsum vehicle which had no record either at the Central Vehicle Registry or Zimbabwe Revenue Authority databases.

The State alleges the pair connived with one Gilson Mubaiwa, who is still at large, to forge a vehicle registration book which was being used for the car by Lumumba's mother, Agnes Mutumanje, who had been registered as the owner of the vehicle.

Maposa is said to have taken the vehicle to Royal Car Sales in Harare where he allegedly misrepresented that the vehicle was properly registered.

However, on July 17 last year, it is alleged, one Evans Mereki found a buyer for the vehicle, Justice Mabuto, who paid $1 850 and was given its registration book by Lumumba.

The State alleges Mabuto then took the vehicle to Marondera Zinara offices intending to pay the vehicle licence and was told that the registration book was dubious.

Audrey Chogumaira represented the State.