Media barred from covering CIO operative, Mashingaidze’s case

extort US$6 000 from Mr Mashingaidze after telling him that he was on the elimination list over his involvement in the Asiagate scandal and his links to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
Defence counsel, Ms Fadzai Mageza and Mr Tapiwa Makanza sought an order barring the media from covering the case.
Harare magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe allowed the application and immediately cleared the gallery.
The State alleged that sometime in February this year, Mubaiwa phoned Mr Mashingaidze and identified himself as Run’anga from the President’s Office.
He allegedly told him that he had a file with information about the Asiagate scandal and the role he played in troubling innocent people.
It is alleged Mubaiwa told him the file had pictures of Fifa president Sepp Blatter, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Zifa president Cuthbert Dube.
Mubaiwa, it is alleged, told Mr Mashingaidze that he had pictures of the Prime Minister in his Zifa office, which indicated he was a member of the MDC-T.
The CIO operative said he was looking into his political background, which included his connection to the MDC-T.
It is alleged he requested Mr Mashingaidze to meet him at Chikwanha Shopping Centre in Chitungwiza to discuss the matter before conniving with Chari whom he briefed about the discussion he had with Mr Mashingaidze.
On the same day at around 7pm, Mr Mashingaidze met Chari in the company of four other unidentified men who were in a parked white kombi.
Mr Mashingaidze, it is alleged, was taken to a secluded place behind Chikwanha Shopping Centre and was accompanied by another unidentified man who kept a distance.
It is alleged Chari told Mr Mashingaidze that he was to be eliminated and that his bosses required US$10 000 or US$6 000 for him to be protected.
Mr Mashingaidze produced US$20.
Chari allegedly told him to go and look for the required money and indicated to him that he was going to contact him the following morning.
The following day, Mr Mashingaidze advised Zifa president Mr Dube and Brigadier General Elliot Kasu and at around 2.30 pm.
It is alleged that Chari later phoned Mr Mashingaidze and told him to come to Avondale Shopping Centre with the money. Mr Mashingaidze met Chari at Spar Supermarket before he was given US$2 000 that was in an envelope.
Chari took the money and ordered him to go and look for the balance before he was arrested by plain-clothes police officers who recovered the money.
He implicated Mubaiwa.