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Godwin Gomwe

Fungai Lupande Court Reporter
Court proceedings were stopped yesterday after it emerged that a witness in the extortion trial of former Zanu-PF Harare provincial youth chairman Godwin Gomwe had two different warned and cautioned statements recorded from him.

It emerged that prosecutor, Mr George Manokore, and Gomwe’s defence Advocate Thembinkosi Magwaliba, were using different statements recorded from the same witness, Peter Dzama.

Adv Magwaliba applied for reopening of his cross-examination because of the anomaly.

“I noticed that the statement I have is different from what the State has,” said Adv Magwaliba.

“There are many differences, for example in the State’s statement the witness says he is 32-years-old, yet in the one I have he is 42.

“As a result, I prepared a wrong defence basing on the wrong statement. I wasted my time.”

Asked by magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe why the witness statement was shambolic, Mr Manokore said he had no idea how that happened.

“I don’t know why the statements are different. I also noticed it today that what the defence has is different from what I have,” said Mr Manokore.

Mr Mahwe postponed the matter to Wednesday.

Gomwe, alias Mambo (34), is jointly charged with Muchineripi Mupindu, alias Ginya (36), Fidelis Ndaradza, alias Brigadier (32), Haruwandi Munyawiri, alias Baya (46), Hamphrey Madenyika (29), Josephine Hadziindi (59), Norah Toronga (38) and Moses Handiseni.

Mr Manokore alleged that on February 11, housing cooperatives were allocated 300 residential stands by the City of Harare.

Gomwe allegedly mobilised 30 youths and proceeded to the construction site and informed them that the land once belonged to the late Amai Sally Mugabe before demanding bribes to “authorise” development.

They are facing three counts of extortion involving $46 200.