BULAWAYO - The High Court here has denied bail to a senior Zanu (PF) official in the Midlands Province, Cephas Mahara, who is facing charges of attempted murder. Mahara who is a member of the partys Shurugwi District Coordinating Committee approached the High Court last week after the magistrates court had denied him bail on the grounds that he is facing serious charges.
According to court papers, allegations against Mahara are that on 28 December, he organized a group of more than 20 Zanu (PF) youths to go and forcibly take over Olympia 34 Mine owned by Nicholas Gara, an MDC activist. Mahara was allegedly armed with a revolver while the other part of the mob was armed with weapons ranging from machetes to stones.
On arrival at the mine, Mahara and his group started throwing stones at Garas workers, and he allegedly discharged a single shot from his pistol which hit and injured Cosmas Hove.
Hove was seriously injured and is currently in an intensive care at Parirenyatwa hospital. Police were called to control the situation at the mine but Mahara and his gang threatened the officers before they drove away in a truck.
In opposing Maharas bail application Timothy Makoni, of the Attorney Generals office said: If Mahara is released, he will mobilise his supporters and return to the mine to cause more havoc, since he claims that the place where Gara is mining belongs to him.
Makoni also mentioned that police need more time to look for Maharas accomplices who are still at large. Mahara is being represented by Jonathan Tsvangirai, of Danziger and Partners, instructed by Chitere, Chidawanyika and Partners.
Post published in: Politics