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Gumbura’s wives mob a car belonging to a relative at the Harare Magistrates’ Court after their hearing yesterday

Court Reporter
The trial of three wives of RMG Independent End Time Message leader Martin Gumbura and their alleged five accomplices accused of photographing themselves naked and possessing pornographic videos opened yesterday.
Choice Neganje (32), Amadeus Mutakwa (32), Rutendo Sekai Mandiya (28), Pamera Kandawire (27), Runyararo Musvovi (27), Veronica Mbanga (27), Tendai Kwatara (34) and Moreblessing Takawira (35) are facing charges of contravening the Censorship and Entertainment Control Act.

The eight denied being in the pictures found in Gumbura’s secretary Tendai’s Ganyani’s office.
Through their lawyer, Ms Rekai Maposa, they claimed their arrest was the work of the devil bent on destroying Gumbura’s legacy.
Prosecutor Mr Michael Reza called the first State witness, Detective Inspector Tichaona Robson Sengwe.

The gallery was shocked when pictures of naked women were produced in court.
Women could be seen dropping their eyes down in shame as the pictures were visible to the gallery while being passed from Mr Reza to the witness and magistrate Mr Douglas Vakayi Chikwekwe.

Det Insp Sengwe took his time scrutinising the picture in order to link them to the accused.
He only managed to positively identify Neganje, Mandiya and Takawira.

“As for the rest of the pictures they are blurred and I cannot pinpoint which accused person is in the picture except for the three I positively identified,” he said.

Giving his testimony, Det Insp Sengwe told the court that they received information that Gumbura was abusing women and children, recording the abuses.

“We obtained a search warrant and proceeded to Gumbura’s house were we discovered pornographic magazines, DVDs and pictures in Ganyani’s office.

“Ganyani indicated that they were keeping the pictures for future reference and improve their sexual experience,” he said.
Neganje, Mutakwa and Kandawira are three of Gumbura’s 11 wives. Gumbura is facing separate rape charges and judgment in his case is expected on January 24.

Mr Reza told the court that the eight women lived at No. 6 Helena Close in Marlborough, Harare.
Mr Reza alleged that on October 21, 2013 Victim Friendly Unit police officers received allegations that abuse of children and women was occurring at the house.

The following day, Det Insp Sengwe, Assistant Insp Wade, Sergeant Chigova and Constable Mumba went to the house to conduct a search of the premises.

Police said they found 16 pornographic DVDs and 57 photographs of all the accused persons posing naked.
The pictures were taken to the Censorship and Entertainment Board for its opinion.

The chairman of Board of Censors, Mr Herbert Malaba, concluded that 49 of the pictures were indecent and obscene.
He said they were to be rejected, banned and prohibited.