Mangoma case: Photos queried Elton Mangoma
Elton Mangoma

Elton Mangoma

Tendai Rupapa Senior Court Reporter
Two members of the MDC-T youth assembly national executive yesterday told the court that suspended deputy treasurer general Mr Elton Mangoma was indeed assaulted by the nine members of the party who are facing charges of assault.
Francis Machimbidzofa (38), Enock Mukudu (31), Stefani Jahwi (36), Samson Nerwande (41), Rhino Mashaya, James Chidakwa, Denford Ndadziore (32), Shakespeare Mukoyi and Paul Gorekore (31) yesterday appeared before Mr Milton Serima.

The nine, are represented by Mr Douglas Mwonzora. Prosecutor Ms Venencia Mtake called Lastone Julius, who said he was a member of the party’s youth assembly national executive, and he said that he witnessed the nine attacking Mangoma from behind. He said he tried to intervene and stop the fracas, but the gang turned on him and assaulted him before he was chased away. During cross-examination by Mr Mwonzora, Julius failed to identify the accused persons on the photos which were produced in court in which Mangoma was being attacked.

He was also shown a video, but still failed to identify any of the accused persons, saying they were not appearing on the video.
Julius questioned the authenticity and origins of the photos and the video clip, arguing that they might have been doctored or tempered with in a bid to exonerate the nine.

Mr Mwonzora told him that the photos were produced in court by Mangoma himself.
Another witness, Thabani Mlambo, who also claimed to be a member of the youth national executive, said Mangoma was indeed assaulted by the nine.
He said the crowd which had gathered outside Harvest House, the party’s headquarters, was singing songs which incited violence such that even their leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai failed to quell them.

The trial continues today.

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