admin
Tendai Rupapa Senior Court Reporter
Former Zanu-PF Harare provincial youth chairman Godwin Gomwe, accused of extorting $46 000 from eight housing cooperatives in Glen Norah using First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe’s name, yesterday claimed that the land in question was reserved for women empowerment programmes not housing purposes.
Through his lawyer Advocate Thembinkosi Magwaliba instructed by Mr John Ndomene, Gomwe during trial claimed that the former Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Cde Ignatious Chombo, had explained this to all members of the housing co-operatives.
“…Thereafter, he never attended at the construction site save for one occasion when he was part of a team that accompanied Dr Ignatious Chombo. His attendance was not in any way an interference with the business of the consortium.
“At that meeting, Dr Chombo explained that in view of the history of the matter, the City of Harare should reconsider the allocation of the land to the housing consortium. He explained that the land had been reserved for women’s empowerment activities and not for housing purposes,” reads part of his defence outline.
The revelations were supported by his alleged accomplices Muchineripi Mupindu alias Ginya (36), Fidelis Ndaradza alias Brigadier (32), Haruwandi Munyawiri alias Baya (46), Hamphrey Madenyika (29), Josephine Hadziindi (59), Norah Toronga (38) and Moses Handiseni.
Through their lawyer Mr Rungano Mahuni, the other seven argued that there was no way they could have extorted money from the co-operatives since it was common knowledge that the land in Glen Norah was leased to the women’s league for their projects.
“That land in as far as the accused were concerned could not be taken or apportioned to any individual and hence none of the accused persons could make a decision pertaining to the said land.
“The alleged payments of $120 made and receipted under Dr Amai Grace Mugabe housing consortium at Glen view 3 have nothing to do with the alleged charges of extortion in the present matter. The chairperson of Dr Amai Grace Mugabe housing consortium is William Tsakatsa and the housing co-operatives receipted under that consortium are in Glen View,” Mr Mahuni said.
Gomwe in his defence further denied using the First Lady’s name or Zanu-PF.
He also denied receiving any money from the co-operatives adding that he was well aware of the announcement by Cde Chombo that the land was not for housing purposes hence he could not have promised to give it to co-operatives.
The State led by Ms Venencia Mutake called the first witness Mr Peter Dzama the chairperson of Spring Field housing co-operative who insisted that that the gang extorted $46 200 and several stands from them.
He said one Godfrey Chivasa advised them to give the gang what they wanted if they wanted to work in peace.
Mr Chivasa said, “Iyi hamuibude iyi kusvika mapa vanhu ava zvavanoda. Mukasavapa zvavanoda hamutopashande. We later met with some of the accused persons excluding Gomwe and Mupindu told us that the matter had gone too far and was now involving the Women’s League before demanding $25 000 which we later gave them but they refused to sign for the money saying yaiyenda kuvakuru.
“We were also told to contribute $120 per each housing co-operative as joining fee for Dr Amai Grace Mugabe housing consortium,” he said.
He further said that Handiseni later told them that “Mambo” (Gomwe) wanted to see them at his offices and upon their arrival he demanded $10 000 saying that he did not benefit from the $25 000 they had given them.
“I suggested we give him $5 000 or a stand but he laughed and said he was an adult and was not worth $5 000 before demanding $10 000. When we later took the money to him, we met him outside his offices and he told us to go to his office and give the money to one Kuda.”
Magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe remanded the matter to July 30 for trial continuation.
Online Reporter