Bombing suspects apply for refusal of further remand

Court Reporter
Three Harare men who allegedly petrol-bombed the Highfield house of Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Botswana, Mr Thomas Mandigora because he had not invited them to his annual house party, yesterday filed an application for refusal of further remand. Richard Boroma Kwedyo, Misheck Njumbani and Marlon Tunga Chibwana, who are neighbours of Ambassador Mandigora, are facing five counts of attempted murder.

The trio has been in custody for the past two months and yesterday they told Harare magistrate Mr Donald Ndirowei that the State had failed to provide them with a trial date.

Prosecutor Ms Sharon Mashavira said the suspects’ docket was sent to the Procesutor-General’s Office for authority to prosecute.
“It was referred back for further management as there are some exhibits that need to go for forensic examination,” she said.

Mr Ndirowei ruled the trio would be removed from remand should the State fail to provide a trial date by January 2, 2014.
Allegations against the trio are that on October 18 they connived to petrol-bomb Ambassador Mandigora’s house at 3155 Jabavu Drive, Old Highfield in Harare.

They reportedly met at Kwedyo’s house with Chibwana allegedly supplying four litres of petrol while Njumbani used his expertise to manufacture two Molotov cocktails. These were allegedly kept at Kwedyo’s house.

At about 6pm on the same day, Njumbani — a neighbour of the diplomat —allegedly confronted Edmore Karipi, who worked at Ambassador Mandigora’s house.

It is alleged he asked Karipi why they were never invited to Ambassador Mandigora’s house for his annual parties. They allegedly asked the caretaker what he would do if their house caught fire.

The following day at 2am, Kwedyo, Chibwana and Njumbani allegedly threw four Molotov cocktails at the ambassador’s house.
Ambassador Mandigora was asleep in the main bedroom when the alleged attack occured. The noise woke him up and he alerted other occupants of the house.

Together, they put out the fire using sand and a police report was made.