Zimpapers Logo

Victor Maphosa Mash East Correspondent

The Nelson Chamisa-led Alliance council candidate for Marondera Central (Ward 10) yesterday appeared in court for allegedly forging signatures on his nomination papers which he submitted at the Nomination Court last month.

Jim Jalifu successfully filed his nomination papers for Ward 10 in Marondera after forging party official, Gilbert Kabodora’s signature.

On the same day, it is alleged that Kabodora, who was one of the signatories for the MDC-Alliance, received information that Jalifu had fraudulently obtained his signature.

It is further alleged on June 15, Kabodora approached the presiding officer at the Nomination Court, Ms Spiwe Chavhunduka, and together inspected Jalifu’s nomination papers.

They both established that the nomination papers filed by Jalifu contained scanned signatures of Kabodora and Revai Muguti.

The court heard that Kabodora reported the matter to the police who retrieved Jalifu’s papers from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).

He is facing charges of fraud.

However, Jalifu denied the charges levelled against him when he appeared before Marondera Magistrate Mr Arnold Maburu.

He argued that he had no reason to forge signatures since he resoundingly won the right to be the candidate for the ward after winning the party’s primary elections.

Jalifu argued further that he received the nomination papers from Kabodoro, who had already signed them before the nomination day. He was remanded to July 27, for continuation of trial.

Courage Chakawa prosecuted.