Online Reporter
Court Correspondent
THE trial of a Harare man accused of kidnapping and assaulting a former work colleague to prevent him from becoming a whistle-blower in an alleged fraud case continued on Monday, with the defence challenging the complainant’s account of events.
Simbarashe Emmanuel Martin Rondozai (38) is facing one count of kidnapping.
During cross-examination before Harare magistrate Tapiwa Kuhudzai, defence lawyer Oliver Marwa questioned the complainant, Mr David Matanda, over his claim that he fled to South Africa after the alleged kidnapping.
Mr Marwa asked Mr Matanda to produce travel documents proving he had left the country.
“You told this court that you fled to South Africa. Do you have any proof of leaving the country, such as passport stamps or border records?” he asked.
Mr Matanda responded that he had left and later returned to Zimbabwe through illegal crossing points.
He further told the court that before leaving the country, he spent about a week in hiding in Concession, Mashonaland Central Province.
Asked whether he had communicated with his wife while in self-imposed exile between May and December 2025, Mr Matanda said he only relayed messages through third parties.
“I contacted her through other people. I could not call her directly,” he said.
The defence also questioned how Mr Matanda managed to identify Rondozai as one of his alleged abductors, arguing that the incident occurred at night.
“I saw him. He is someone I know because we worked together for eight years,” Mr Matanda replied.
Mr Marwa further referred the complainant to a police statement allegedly made by Mr Matanda’s wife, in which she stated that the men who abducted her husband were wearing masks.
Asked to explain the apparent inconsistency, Mr Matanda said he could not comment on his wife’s statement.
The State objected to that line of questioning, arguing that the complainant could not testify on behalf of another witness.
However, Magistrate Kuhudzai ruled that the defence was entitled to test the credibility of the complainant’s evidence.
The matter was postponed to July 15 for continuation of trial.
According to the State, Rondozai and four accomplices who are still at large allegedly kidnapped Mr Matanda from his Zengeza 5 home in May 2025 after two of the suspects allegedly posed as police officers.
The State alleges the five men assaulted, handcuffed and blindfolded Mr Matanda before forcing him into a silver Honda Fit, where he was unlawfully detained for about eight hours.
During the ordeal, Rondozai allegedly ordered Mr Matanda not to implicate him in the alleged misappropriation of funds at a security company where they had previously worked together.
Mr Matanda was also allegedly questioned about the company’s security arrangements for its directors.
The court heard that the complainant was threatened with unspecified action if he reported the alleged kidnapping and assault to police or implicated Rondozai in the alleged fraud.
The suspects allegedly dumped Mr Matanda near a bridge along New Chitungwiza Road before fleeing.
Fearing for his life, Mr Matanda allegedly fled to South Africa and only returned to Zimbabwe in December 2025, after which he reported the matter to police at St Mary’s Police Station.
Rondozai was subsequently arrested, while police are still seeking his four alleged accomplices.
