There were only four witnesses who were left to testify today before the case is wrapped up.
Provincial Secretary for administration Kenneth Saruchera, secretary for transport and welfare David Momberume and two investigating officers were supposed to testify today.
Saruchera was already in the court when prosecutor Jane Matsikidze broke the news leaving the packed court puzzled.
Intially, when the trial kick started on April 8, the State had indicated that the trial will run for three days.
“There are some issues which have been agreed by the court, State and defence for the postponement of the proceedings,” she said without further elaborating.
Defence counsel, Tichaona Hove of TK and Associates could not shed light on the abrupt postponement of the trial but confirmed that the issue was discussed in chambers but he could not comment further.
“I cannot comment on something that was discussed in chambers because it’s private. The moment I discuss this with media it will be a contempt of court,” Hove said.
Earlier in the morning, Lucy Golowa, a typist at party`s provincial office confirmed that they were advised by Mabika to alter the minutes of meetings which had to do with the donated beasts.
Angawache Maenza, acting provincial administrator also said Mabika had instructed her to tamper with the minutes of provincial meetings.
She said on Feb 11 this year, she was instructed by Mabika to make additions on the minutes of a provincial meeting held sometime last year.
“Mabika instructed me to make additions that the three cattle that were slaughtered for inter district conference did not tally with the cash paid to John Chirimambowa who had sold the beast to the party. The documents were typed by my subordinate Nancy Golowa,”she testified.
She said Mabika told her that the minutes were required by police.
“After she left, I immediately informed my subordinate (Nancy Golowa) who also showed me some shocking additions which Mabika had instructed her to make on the minutes which I had previously typed,”Maenza said.
“The additions were that six calves that were donated had died. To my knowledge, I was not aware of any meeting which was held which suggested that the calves had died,”Maenza added.
The two witnesses shot down defence assertion that they were part of the group that was working for the downfall of Madiro and Mabika political careers.
They said they had sound working relationship with both accused.
Madiro, 49, and Mabika, 47, face charges of theft involving 10 cattle donated by a Chipinge farmer towards the hosting of celebrations for President Robert Mugabe’s birthday in Mutare last The duo, through their lawyer, Hove, pleaded not guilty to the charges when the trial began on Monday before Mutare provincial magistrate Lucie-Anne Mungwari.
Throughout the cross examination, the defence maintained that his clients were innocent and were victims of political persecution and the case had nothing to do with administration of justice serve for abuse of state institutions “If you follow the closely you will see that this is a case of political persecution and nothing to do with administration of justice. There is no evidence showing that the cattle were stolen,” said the defence Other witnesses who have already testified in the case include Zanu (PF) bigwigs Didymus Mutasa, Absalom Sikhosana and Supa Mandiwanzira.
Mutasa told the court the duo erred by not disclosing the cattle to the party, as well as slaughtering three of the beasts for an event other than the 21st February Movement celebrations for which they were meant.
He said the party expects accountability and Madiro, as the provincial chairman, must have disclosed everything that had been bought or donated towards the celebrations including the balance which the party normally donates to charity.
“If those cattle were secured for the 21st February celebrations, and they ended up being used for another function without the party’s knowledge, that is an offence. As the national secretary for administration, I should have been told of these developments,” he said.
Mutasa rejected assertion by the defence counsel that the trial was just a political persecution.
“That’s not correct. The two did wrong and that is why we are in court. They are all my friends and I believe we are friends,” he said.
Zanu Sikhosana, challenged by the defence lawyer about factional fights in the party’s Manicaland executive, insisted that he was not aware of any divisions and refused to answer questions relating to the alleged rifts.
Mandiwanzira told the court he released funds to pay for the 10 cattle, adding that this was his only involvement with the case. It was not explained what happened to the money he released, as the beasts at the centre of the trial were donated.
He also confirmed it was party practice that beasts bought for one event can be used for a different function as long as it is approved by the party.
Post published in: News