School bombing suspect back in court

Bulawayo Bureau
THE suspect in the petrol bombing of a school administration block in Kwekwe reappeared in court yesterday after his initial appearance at the weekend.

One of the teachers at Manunure High School, Patrick Zvandikona (26), was allegedly caught on closed circuit television (CCTV), allegedly letting off the bomb. He allegedly committed the offence to destroy evidence that he had stolen $425 from the school. The school lost property worth $4 182 in the fire. The court heard that he was wearing a white jacket, had fashioned a balaclava out of a black plastic bag and was wearing black and white underwear.

Zvandikona, who appeared before Provincial Magistrate Ms Letwin Rwodzi on initial remand at the weekend, returned to court yesterday facing charges of malicious damage of property and theft of $425. He pleaded not guilty to both charges and the magistrate remanded him out of custody to April 26 on $100 bail. Prosecutor Ms Fiona Mukwena told the court on March 24 that Zvandikona held $425 on behalf of the school, represented by the headmaster Charles Nzvenge.

“Zvandikona was given the money to cover expenses for a sporting activity,” said Mukwena.

The State alleges that the school has been demanding receipts for the money which he was given on March 24 but he had failed to provide them.

“He converted the money to his own use and then hatched a plan to burn the administration block to destroy the evidence,” the court heard.

Mukwena told the court that on March 29, Zvandikona petrol-bombed the administration block. “The offence was discovered by Philemon Kanyendu, a security guard who was on duty. He made a report to the police who retrieved CCTV footage. They discovered the accused person was wearing a white jacket, black and white underwear and covering his head with a black plastic bag,” said Mukwena.

On March 30, the court heard, police received information that Zvandikona was responsible for the attack.

The police, Mukwena said, recovered the white jacket and underwear at Zvandikona’s house; they also recovered CCTV footage of the accused buying fuel from a service station on the night of the attack.