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Tendai Rupapa Senior Court Reporter—
A bail application by four MDC-T members accused of assaulting the party’s deputy treasurer, Elton Mangoma, is expected to continue today with their legal team making submissions. Francis Machimbidzofa (38), Enock Mukudu (31), Stefani Jahwi (36) and Samson Nerwande (41) have been in custody since last Wednesday.
They are all charged with assault, and Nerwande faces an additional charge of public violence for allegedly assaulting Angirayi Moyowatidi, whom he accused of supporting Mangoma in his bid to have party leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai resign.
The matter was postponed on Friday because magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe was said to be occupied elsewhere.
The four on Friday appeared before Mr Donald Ndirowei, who remanded them to today for continuation of the bail application.
Their lawyer Mr Douglas Mwonzor – who is also MDC-T spokesperson – pleaded with the court to give the matter first preference today.
Their co-accused, James Chidhakwa, has already appeared in court and is still in custody after he was denied bail by Mr Mahwe.
When their bail application commenced, 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 allegation that he suffered severe head injuries.
During cross-examination, prosecutor Mr Tungamirai Chakurira accused Machimbidzofa of being a flight risk.
It is the State’s case that the quartet 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.
Online Reporter