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Morgan Komichi

Tendai Rupapa Senior Court Reporter
The trial of MDC-T deputy national chairman Morgan Komichi accused of contravening the Electoral Act continued yesterday with ZEC deputy director of public relations maintaining that the ballot papers were not sealed when Komichi brought them to ZEC chairperson. Komichi is facing a charge of fraud and contravening the Electoral Act after he was allegedly found in possession of an envelope containing ballot papers belonging to a policeman, Constable Mugove Chiginya of Mbare in Harare, which he claimed to have picked in a dustbin at a city hotel.

Speaking during cross-examination by Komichi’s lawyer Mr Alec Muchadehama, Mr Tendai Pamire said Komichi presented the unsealed ballot papers to ZEC chairperson Justice Rita Makarau.

“When ZEC chairperson Justice Makarau brought out the papers from the envelope for us all to see, both the khaki and grey envelopes were not sealed. When he brought the papers to the commission, he (Komichi) did not disclose the person who had picked up the ballot papers. He only said that the person brought the papers to him alleging that he had obtained them from a bin but the exact location was not specified,” he said.

Upon being asked if the papers had serial numbers, Mr Pamire said he was unable to recall the finer details about the appearance of the ballot papers in question.

He added that from where he was seated in the boardroom during the meeting, he did not take a closer look at the papers.
Mr Muchadehama indicated to the court that Mr Pamire had said in his statement to the police that the ballot papers were marked in favour of MDC–T candidates.

However, Mr Pamire confirmed that he did not see the markings on the ballot papers adding that he made the statement after the discussions in the meeting.

“Personally, I did not handle the papers, they were only passed around the table in the boardroom and I got to know that they were marked in favour of MDC-T candidates after the discussions at the meeting,” he said.

Mr Muchadehama argued that the testimony provided by Mr Pamire showed that he could no longer remember what transpired on the day in question. He accused him of having a faulty memory and personal opinions based on assumptions.

In response, Mr Pamire who is the second State witness, told the court that as a human being he was bound to forget some things.
Mr Mahwe rolled over the matter to today for trial continuation.

Charges against Komichi arose on July 28, after he allegedly misrepresented that a sealed tamper-proof envelope with a special vote ballot paper had been picked at the HICC where the special vote was being processed. Investigations showed that Cst Chiginya had allegedly failed to vote in the special voting exercise as his name had not been called out by the presiding officer.