Gumbura bail application deferred

Court Reporter
High Court judge Justice Joseph Musakwa on Friday postponed the bail application by jailed RMG End Time Message Church leader Robert Martin Gumbura to Friday this week upon discovery that some parts of the transcribed record of proceedings conducted at the magistrates’ court were missing.

Further, some pages of the transcript were not properly arranged.

Gumbura’s lawyers undertook to ensure the missing parts were included in the record filed with the High Court by tomorrow, and that the record was in order. Gumbura’s lead counsel, Advocate Thembinkosi Magwaliba, confirmed the position after a closed door meeting of the parties in Justice Musakwa’s chambers.

“Parts of the record are not in order. Some parts are missing while others are not arranged properly. The matter has been postponed to Friday for the anomaly to be rectified and to allow the judge to fully comprehend the record,” said Adv Magwaliba.

Adv Magwaliba’s instructing attorney, Mrs Rekayi Maphosa, said one of the State witnesses’ evidence and part of Gumbura’s evidence were not included, attributing the problem to the transcribers.

Law officer Mr Editor Mavuto confirmed the case had been postponed.
In the heads of argument filed by Adv Magwaliba on Tuesday, Gumbura said he had several properties and other business interests in Zimbabwe and these ensured he would not skip bail.

Gumbura said he loved his wives and children, whom he said also loved him.
He was recently sentenced to an effective 40-year jail term after being convicted on four counts of rape involving three women, and of possessing pornographic material.