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Yeukai Karengezeka
Court Correspondent

THE trial of CCC Member of Parliament for Sunningdale Constituency Maureen Kademaunga, Councillor Clayd Mashozhera

and two other accomplices on three attempted murder charges, continued with the State leading evidence from more witnesses.

The quartet is also facing malicious damage to property charges.

The incident occurred on the eve of August 22, 2023 by-elections for Sunningdale Constituency.

The witness Mr Artwell Marwa (64, who is a Zanu PF Harare provincial committee member told the court what transpired on

the day in question before the presiding magistrate Mrs Estere Chivasa.

He said on August 21, 2023 at around 11 pm, he and his party’s aspiring councillor Cyril Nyauchi and Spencer Mudarikwa were

moving around Sunningdale giving food to Zanu PF agents who were at polling stations.

“We were using Cyril Nyauchi’s car, a Toyota Spacio with registration number ADH 1690,” he said.

“When we were at the corner of Boshoff Road and Seke Road, Sunningdale 1 on our way home, our vehicle was blocked by six

motor vehicles carrying the accused persons. Among the vehicles were a silver Honda Fit and a white commuter omnibus

whose registration numbers I did not capture.”

He added that the accused persons started assaulting Mr Nyauchi for unknown reasons and when he disembarked, the accused

persons also assaulted Mr Mudarikwa and him with an axe, iron bars, and button sticks

According to Mr Marwa the accused persons then left the scene in their motor vehicles. He said he sustained a cut on the head,

a swollen right hand, and some bruises on the left shin, shoulders, and abdomen.

He also said his two cell phones were smashed and he lost his wallet with US$13.The total value of his damaged two cell phones

was US$108.

He added that after about an hour, the police arrived on the scene and they were taken to Sally Mugabe Hospital where he was

treated and discharged.

The pictures showing the extent of his injuries could not be tendered as exhibits as the phone that was used to take the pictures

was no longer available.

Prosecutor Ms Heather Muwokoto yesterday also led evidence from two security guards Mr Chimbomirai Mutonza and Mr

Nhamo Karangarira who were on night duty close to Metro Peech premises.

They only confirmed that they saw a vehicle burning on the road but there was no one around the car at around 2 am.

Sergeant Major Tafadzwa Chibwanda, the attending detail, in his evidence in chief, told the court that he was called by ZRP

Mbare Headquarters to proceed to corner Seke Road and Boshoff Road to assist people who required help.

He rushed to the scene in the company of another sergeant and saw a Toyota Spacio ADH1690 which was facing southwards

and was parked off the road that was burnt to ashes.

Sgt Chibwanda further told the court that he saw Mr Mudarikwa lying beside the road injured as well as Mr Garwe who had

been injured on the head and called for an ambulance which took them to the hospital.

During cross-examination, he told the court that at the scene he saw several pamphlets inscribed: “Do Not Vote, Election Is

Stolen, Stay At Home” which were scattered around the burnt vehicle.

Another witness, Constable Edias Mhandu, who was stationed at Graniteside base on August 22, 2023 at around 02:25 am,

said Mr Nyauchi came to report that he had been assaulted by a mob of about 12 people.

He added that Mr Nyauchi told him that the people who assaulted him were in a Honda Fit and a white kombi.

He also said that he had seen several pamphlets scattered at the crime scene. The trial is expected to continue on September 11.