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Zvikomborero Parafini
THE lengthy bribery trial of former ZIFA president, Felton Kamambo, has ended, with the verdict set to be delivered on March 4.
The case started in August 2020 and Kamambo finished his defence yesterday by arguing that the charge by the State was defective and had been crafted in a way to embarrass him.
He added that the State had failed to say who the principal of the agents who participated in the election was, making it difficult for him to properly defend himself.
“It was important for the State to clarify who their principal was because it would make the case clear.
“The absence of clarity is making it difficult for me to give my defence. At one point, the clubs where they came from were referred to as their principal and at times, the chairman of the electoral board was referred to as their principal.
“The State should have recorded statements from the said principals
“There’s an insinuation from the State that the voters shouldn’t have been given that money or weren’t entitled to it, but the money was a reimbursement.
“ZIFA wasn’t supposed to pay them because it wasn’t a ZIFA congress where attendees are paid by ZIFA. It was a campaign meeting,” said Kamambo.
However, prosecutor Michael Reza argued that the fact that Kamambo paid towards the election showed it was an inducement for people to vote for him.
The State will file its closing submissions on February 16 and Kamambo’s lawyers will file their submissions on February 26.
During the trial, one of the witnesses, Robert Matoka, was arrested soon after testifying after being declared a hostile witness.
Matoka became hostile and denied his statement and affidavit in court, accusing the complainant, businessman Phillip Chiyangwa of cooking up the bribery case against Kamambo.
Online Reporter