TRIAL OF FIVE SUSPECTED HITMEN IN FALSE START

Zvikomborero Parafini

THE trial of five suspected hitmen, who were allegedly hired to assassinate a local businessman after a whooping US$800 000 was lost in a deal, failed to get underway once again yesterday because the complainant did not attend the court session.

Moses Monde of Johannesburg, Malvin Manzinde, Malvin Tatenda Nyamuranga, Norbert Muponda and Joshua Mapuranga, who are based in Cape Town, appeared before magistrate Clever Tsikwa, who remanded the case to August 7 for trial commencement.

The State, represented by Ephraim Zinyandu, applied for a postponement and told the court that the complainant, Oliver Tendai Chipundu, had travelled to London and his flights were delayed.

Zinyandu further applied for a warrant of arrest against the second witness, Bernard Bruce Chiweshe, who is widely known as Bento, for his non appearance in court after he was personally served a subpoena advising him of the court date and time.

A warrant of arrest was issued.

The conman who hired them, Obrian Obert Mapurisa, is on the run.

Mapurisa entered into an agreement with Chipindu to purchase Liquefied Petroleum gas tankers in Turkey.

Chipindu gave Mapurisa cash amounting to US$800 000 for the purchase of seven Liquefied Petroleum gas tankers.

The cash was paid in varying sums on different dates.

In January, Chipindu made numerous efforts to obtain paperwork pertaining to the purchased gas tankers but Mapurisa became evasive.

Chipindu then contacted Mimak Company in Turkey, which had been contracted to supply the gas tankers, and was advised that they had not yet been paid the full purchase price.

Only a deposit of US$132 000 had been paid.

Chipindu contacted Mapurisa, who confirmed that he had diverted the funds, but was going to pay for the tankers in full as planned. Chipindu demanded a refund of his money but Mapurisa became evasive.

On February 28, Chipindu went to Turkey and tried to talk to Mimak Company so that he could get more time to pay for the tankers, as they were about to dispose them elsewhere.

As a result of the pestering by Chipindu, Mapurisa hatched a plan to eliminate him.

He hired the five hitmen, who are all based in South Africa, for the hit.

He supplied them with Chipindu’s address and picture.