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Peter Matika, Senior Reporter
BULAWAYO South Constituency losing independent candidate in last year’s harmonised elections Josphat “Mzaca” Ngulube together with 11 other suspects, one of them a popular former entertainment promoter, Marshal Mpofu, are applying for a discharge for charges laid against them for taking part in the January demonstrations.
They are accused of fanning and taking part in violence that rocked the country in January this year resulting in the destruction of property worth millions of dollars. Ngulube (34) and his alleged accomplices, through a group of lawyers from various law firms, are seeking for the discharge, where they claim that the charges are weak and that the State witnesses presented inconclusive facts that were contradictory to the charges.
Ngulube, as well as the 11 other suspects appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Tinashe Tashaya last week and the matter was remanded to 21 June for ruling. In April this year it was reported that the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) withdrew from representing Ngulube and his co-accused.
Ngulube said the lawyers had dumped him citing financial constraints. Ngulube and his co-accused have been on trial since February this year. They are suspected to have burnt three cars; destroying a precast wall and breaking several window panes of a house belonging to Zanu-PF Bulawayo Provincial Women’s League chairperson, Cde Eva Bitu.
The other suspects are Esther Mbewe (53), Fortune Masuku (29), Melusi Moyo (32), Lavenda Moyo (66), Thabisani Ngwenya (32), Otilia Sibanda (34), Angeline Mwemba (41), Minenhle Mahlangu (28), Mwale Chifufu (34) and Duduzile Amisi (39).
According to the State’s case, on 14 January at about 7am, the accused persons, acting in connivance with 100 others, unlawfully blocked free movement of traffic at an intersection along Sizinda Road and Nketa Drive. They allegedly engaged in acts of violence. They went to Cde Bitu’s residence and threw stones and destroyed a precast wall to gain access to the yard.
They destroyed window panes before torching her three cars, a Ford Ranger, Nissan NP 300 and a Toyota Vitz.
The court heard that the accused persons proceeded to Tshabalala Housing Office and clinic where they allegedly stoned the buildings. Mrs Memory Matare presented the case for the State.
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