Tichaona Mutedza told a shocked court room on Monday that he was the MDC-T ward 2 chairperson for Mt Darwin, and there had been threats made to him by ZANU PF elements who talked of killing policeman Petros Mutedza as a way to “fix him”.
Mutedza was testifying at the High Court in a bail application hearing for 29 MDC-T activists accused of killing his brother, police officer Petros Mutedza, at local pub in Glen View last year. Some of the accused have been in police custody for over a year, having been denied bail several times as ‘flight risks’.
Mutedza’s testimony is new evidence that has been submitted by defence lawyers to justify a fresh bail hearing by Justice Chinembiri Bhunu.
Mutedza told the court: “Yes, I said ZANU PF killed him and was using my brother’s body for campaigning and gaining support even in countries like South Africa where they claimed that MDC activists killed a police officer.”
Mutedza said a source named only as Gombiro told him back in 2003 that the officer-in-charge at Mukumbura police station, identified as Scot, and a secret agent named Victor Jaravaza, had plotted the murder nine years ago. Their motive was to get a tractor and a motor vehicle respectively.
“On the day in question, ZANU PF activists dressed themselves in MDC T-shirts in a well-orchestrated move and my brother was killed because he was supporting me every time I was under attack by ZANU PF supporters,” Tichaona is quoted as saying. He added that Jaravaza told him they would also deal with Lovemore Madhuku and MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
The new evidence has also focused on the condition of the slain cop’s body when he was buried. Tichaona claims his brother was mutilated and his genitals were missing, which is contrary to what the state claims.
Tichaona urged the court to release the 29 activists from custody, insisting they played no part in his brother’s murder. Among the accused are several MDC-T top officials, including the chairman of the National Youth Assembly, Solomon Madzore.
The bail hearing continued on Tuesday. – SW Radio Africa News
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