adminCde Chapepa sustained burns on his legs after he was allegedly petrol-bombed by MDC-T secretary general for Headlands Samson Magumura.
Magumura appeared at Rusape magistrates’ courts on Monday facing charges of petrol-bombing and seriously injuring Cde Chapepa and burning his vehicle.
He was charged with attempted murder and malicious damage to property when he appeared before Rusape provincial magistrate Mr Shingi Mutiro.
Rusape area public prosecutor Mr Tirivanhu Mutyasira opposed the granting of bail for Magumura, prompting Mr Mutiro to refer him to the High Court for bail application.
According to State papers, Magumura, who resides in Village A Tandi area, clashed with Zanu-PF cell leader for Ward 12 in Headlands Cde Chapepa and threatened to “fix him”.
Magumura and Cde Chapepa are aspiring councillors for the ward under their respective party tickets.
Magumura allegedly made the threats on February 13.
On Tuesday last week, around 2am, Magumura and two others still at large allegedly connived to kill Cde Chapepa and to damage his Nissan Vanette kombi.
Armed with 2×5 litre bottles of petrol, a machete, two long copper wire pieces, strings, a kitchen knife, newspapers, paraffin lamps and boxes of matches, they pounced on Cde Chapepa’s homestead.
They allegedly sprinkled some petrol on the front of the kombi and placed a petrol bottle directly under the vehicle fuel tank before setting it on fire.
Cde Chapepa, who was sleeping inside the house, woke up after hearing a loud bang and peeped through the window.
He then jumped through the window and saw three men including Magumura running away.
While Cde Chapepa was struggling to put out the fire, it is the State’s case that Magumura approached him brandishing a machete and another petrol bomb.
He allegedly threw the petrol bomb at Cde Chapepa, setting him ablaze and inflicting serious injuries on his legs.
Magumura was remanded in custody to April 5 when the State is expected to provide him with a trial date.
Online Reporter