adminThe incident, which happened at around 11.30 pm on 27 December, left several windowpanes shattered following the explosion.
Zanu-PF provincial offices are situated on the ground floor of Development House, on the western part of the Central Business District.
A Zhombe man who was sleeping in one of the nearby verandas witnessed the act and was able to identify the vehicle used to commit the crime and the suspect leading to the subsequent arrest of the suspect.
A source within the police said the witness, who at this juncture cannot be named for security reasons, was forced to sleep at one of the shops’ verandas after failing to get connecting transport to his rural home.
Meanwhile, the suspect, Abisha Nyanguwo (45) whose residential address was not given but gave his business address as 5th Floor, Harvest House, Harare, yesterday appeared before Gweru provincial magistrate Mr Sithembinkosi Msipa facing a charge of malicious damage to property.
He was remanded in custody to today for bail ruling.
Nyanguwo is being represented by Mr Reginald Chidawanyika of Chitere, Chidawanyika and Partners.
The facts as presented by the State counsel led by Mr Michael Mhene are that on 27 December last year, Nyanguwo was driving an Isuzu Twin Cab, silver in colour, registration number ABA 6885.
The court heard that the accused proceeded to Zanu-PF provincial offices on the ground floor of Development House.
Mr Mhene told the court that when Nyanguwo got to the Zanu-PF offices, he placed some explosives on the floor of the party offices next to the windows and ignited it. He then allegedly ran away from the scene and got into his vehicle and drove away.
Mr Mhene said a few minutes after Nyanguwo had driven off, the planted explosives detonated, causing a loud explosion.
He said the explosion caused some damage on the Zanu-PF offices where some windowpanes were shattered.
The court also heard that windowpanes of a nearby shop, Gigatech Technologies were also shattered by the same explosion.
Three witnesses who were sleeping in a block of flats on the same building were also disturbed by the explosion. The court heard that no one was injured.
Mr Mhene said a pick-up truck, a Toyota Hilux, registration number ACB 1431, that was parked for the night, had its windscreen shattered by splinters from the explosives. He said the accused person drove to Chicken Inn after detonating the explosion that damaged Zanu-PF Midlands provincial offices.
The court heard that Nyanguwo’s vehicle was spotted parked at Chicken Inn with the accused person and another occupant.
Mr Mhene said a man from Zhombe who could not get transport to his rural home witnessed the incident, leading to the arrest of the accused person.
It was the State’s position that it was not yet safe to reveal the identity of the witness as it could expose the person to danger.
Online Reporter