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Senior Court Reporter
The trial of former zanu-pf Harare Province youth chairman Godwin Gomwe and seven others accused of extorting over $46 000 from eight housing cooperatives in Glen Norah using the First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe’s name, failed to kick off yesterday for the second time because the presiding magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe was not available.
Magistrate Mr Vakayi Chikwekwe advised Gomwe and his alleged accomplices that Mr Mahwe had an emergency to attend to.
He then postponed the matter to July 20, a date which both the State and the defence consented to.
Mr Chikwekwe said he could not entertain the matter since he was the presiding magistrate during the gang’s bail hearing.
Initially, the trial date was set for July 1, but it failed to start after Gomwe’s lawyer Advocate Thembinkosi Magwaliba asked for more time to prepare his defence.
The State is being represented by Ms Venencia Mutake and Mr George Manokore.
Gomwe alias Mambo (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), Norah Toronga (38) and Moses Handiseni.
The State alleged that on February 11, housing cooperatives namely NRZ, Mudadirwa Zvobgo, Tenzi Tinzwei, Spring Field, Archgrace, Palmar Vision, Westgin, First Avenue, Green Image and Ingoni, all registered under the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises, were allocated 300 residential stands by the City of Harare.
Gomwe allegedly mobilised 30 youths and proceeded to the construction site and informed them that the land once belonged to the late Amai Sally Mugabe.
The group reportedly told officials from housing co-operatives that the land they wanted to build on now belonged to the First Lady before demanding bribes to “authorise” development.
They are facing three counts of extortion involving $46 200.
Online Reporter