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Senior Court Reporter
Lawyers representing the four MDC-T members accused of assaulting the party’s deputy treasurer-general, Elton Mangoma, claim to have a video footage showing that none of their clients committed the offence.
Francis Machimbidzofa (38), Enock Mukudu (31), Stefani Jahwi (36) and Samson Nerwande (41) have been in custody since Wednesday last week.
They are all charged with assault.
Nerwande faces an additional charge of public violence for allegedly assaulting Angirayi Moyowatidi whom he accused of supporting Mangoma.
Party activists accuse Mangoma of trying to topple party leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai.
Their co-accused, James Chidhakwa, has already appeared in court and is still in custody after he was denied bail by the same court.
Assisted by Mr Benjamin Chikowero, Mr Douglas Mwonzora, who is also the MDC-T spokesperson, told court that the footage was recorded by security personnel at Harvest House.
He said they had already shown police the footage.
The quartet yesterday appeared before magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe but their bail application failed to take off as the court was overwhelmed with cases.
Mr Mahwe rolled over the matter to today with Mr Mwonzora giving notice to produce the video in court.
When their bail application commenced last week, Mr Mwonzora led evidence from Machimbidzofa, who denied assaulting Mangoma.
He said Mangoma wanted to be the party’s next president hence he was fixing him for supporting the incumbent, Mr Tsvangirai.
Mr Mwonzora produced a medical report for Mangoma showing his injuries were “moderate” contrary to the State’s allegations that he suffered severe head injuries.
During cross-examination, prosecutor Mr Tungamirai Chakurira accused Machimbidzofa of being a flight risk.
The State alleges that the four punched and slapped Mr Mangoma all over his body at the party’s headquarters. Mangoma bled from the nose, his shirt was torn and his spectacles – worth US$300 – were damaged, it is alleged.
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