MDC-T officials’ trial postponed

Court Reporter
THE trial of four MDC-T officials accused of compiling illegal “dockets” against Government officials has been postponed to September 16.
Harare magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe postponed Thabani Mpofu, Felix Matsinde, Mehluli Tshuma and Warship Dumba’s trial after it was submitted that the trial magistrate and prosecutor were handling a different matter with the same lawyer.

Mpofu, Matsinde, Tshuma and Dumba are facing charges of impersonating the police, possessing articles for criminal use and breaching the Official Secrets Act.

Prosecutor Mr Michael Reza alleges that on March 17, detectives received information that the four were in possession of dockets they were privately compiling with a view to discrediting the judicial system.

It is alleged that the quartet claimed that the police and the AG had failed or refused to investigate cases of corruption involving prominent people in Government. It is alleged the four had documents of police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri’s background and another titled “Case for a full investigation into the Ministry of Lands-System of issuing offer letters 1 September, 2009”.

A team of detectives went to Mpofu’s residence and found some of the documents, including a laptop and a pistol.
The State alleges that the suspects indicated that they were legal advisors to the Prime Minister and researching on alleged corruption and criminal abuse of office and the appointment of Comm-Gen Chihuri.

Investigations also revealed that the accused were being bankrolled by the Institute for a Democratic Alternative for Zimbabwe, the court heard.