Magistrate reopens Gumbura’s rape trial Robert Martin Gumbura

Court Reporter
A Harare magistrate yesterday reopened the rape trial of Robert Martin Gumbura, the convicted RMG Independent End Time Message leader, a year after he filed his application for review at the High Court. This came after Gumbura’s failure to follow up on the application for review. The prosecutor Mrs Kudzayi Chigwedere told the court that the application filed at the High Court was never followed up.

“There is no basis for the trial not to continue if the accused didn’t pursue his application,” she said.

Harare magistrate Mr Fadzai Mtombeni ordered Gumbura’s lawyer Mr Tapson Dzvetero to bring proof that the application was followed up.

However, Mr Dzvetero failed to turn up due to his commitments at the High Court prompting Ms Mtombeni to adjourn the matter to today for trial continuation.

The trial was stayed last year pending a High Court review of proceedings.

Gumbura, who was represented by Advocate Thembinkosi Magwaliba then, wanted the High Court to look into proceedings in which they alleged the magistrate made a gross error by putting him to his defence.

In the matter, Gumbura is jointly charged with his secretary Tendai Ganyani who allegedly assisted him rape a minor he had adopted.

Mrs Chigwedere alleged that Gumbura took advantage of the underprivileged girl and raped her with Ganyani’s help.

The girl was one of the vulnerable members of the church who was adopted by Gumbura after an agreement between him and her father.

It is alleged that after the adoption, Gumbura was responsible for her school fees and upkeep.

Ganyani allegedly ordered the girl to go into Gumbura’s office and she locked the door from outside.

After raping the girl, it is alleged, Gumbura phoned Ganyani to unlock the door.

Both Gumbura and Ganyani deny the charge.

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