Gomwe faces fresh charges

Freeman Razemba Crime Reporter
Zanu-PF Harare provincial youth chairman Godwin Gomwe is facing seven fresh charges that include assault charges.

He spent the whole day yesterday at Harare Central Police Station assisting police with investigations.

Gomwe was taken from Harare Remand Prison where he is detained in a case in which he is accused of extorting over $46 000 from housing co-operatives in Harare using the First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe’s name.

Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba yesterday confirmed that Gomwe was assisting police with investigations on the fresh charges.

“He is with the Criminal Investigations Department since there are some cases that are being investigated,” she said.

Sources close to the investigations confirmed the developments and said Gomwe was being questioned over assault cases and for violating the Postal and Telecommunications Act.

Although the details were still sketchy by yesterday, the sources said Gomwe made threats using cellphones to various people in the city.

He also has assault cases reported against him at Glen Norah Police Station under RRB/202 /4716.

In the extortion case for which he was denied bail last week, Gomwe (34) is jointly charged with Muchineripi Mupindu, alias Ginya (36), Fidelis Ndaradza, alias Brigadier (32), Haruwandi Munyawiri, alias Baya (46), Hamphrey Madenyika (29), Josephine Hadziindi (59) and Norah Toronga (38).

They are facing three counts of extortion.

Gomwe was also dragged to the High Court by a housing development firm this week which sought to recover close to 200 stands he allegedly grabbed from the firm.

Gomwe reportedly took 196 stands in Westlea and Tynwald, Harare, and distributed them to his housing consortium members.

In an application filed at the High Court, Bradha Engineering (Pvt) Ltd, Gomwe, Final Hope Housing Co-operative, Tawanda (TI), Bright Munemo, Mateyo D and City of Harare were listed as respondents.

The company is seeking an order compelling Gomwe and his accomplices to return the stands and vacate the pieces of land.

Gomwe is also sitting on a contempt of court charge for de- fying an order seeking a similar relief the same court granted early this year by Justice Priscilla Chigumba.