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Sunday Mail editor Mabasa Sasa, reporters Brian Chitemba (in brown jacket) and Tinashe Farawo after being freed on bail at the Harare Magistrates’ Court

Fungai Lupande Court Reporter
Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority’s regional manager Tawanda Gotosa was yesterday humiliated after Advocate Fadzayi Mahere representing The Sunday Mail editor Mabasa Sasa, Investigations editor Brian Chitemba and reporter Tinashe Farawo ordered him to apologise to the court for lying under oath.

Gotosa lied to the court that he did not talk to Farawo about a Zimparks area manager who was suspended.

Gotosa was asked to read to the court his statement to the police on November 3 last year, which confirmed that he spoke to Farawo about the suspension of the area manager.

“So you talked to Farawo about the suspension of the area manager?” asked Adv Mahere.

Gotosa confirmed that he had, and Adv Mahere asked if he remembered telling the court three minutes before that he had not.

“So you lied to the court?” asked Adv Mahere to which, Gotosa said, “Yes”.

“Apologise to your Worship,” ordered Adv Mahere.

Gotosa said: “My apologies, your Worship.”

Proceeding with the cross-examination, Adv Mahere asked Gotosa if he disputed that a syndicate of police officers and parks rangers was behind a spat of killings at Hwange National Park.

In response Gotosa said he could not.

“Do you have evidence to prove the falseness of the article?” asked Adv Mahere and Gotosa said he did not.

“In the article, you are said to have confirmed that arrests were made pertaining to poaching. Is it true or false?” asked Adv Mahere.

“It is true,” answered Gotosa.

“In the article, Farawo said you told him that a parks manager was suspended, was he lying?” asked Adv Mahere and Gotosa said he wasn’t lying.

“Farawo added that you said you cannot discuss the matter with him further because doing so would jeopardise investigations, was it true?” enquired Adv Mahere.

“It is true,” replied Gotosa.

Trial continues on June 17 and Zimparks spokesperson Caroline Washaya-Moyo is the next witness.

Sasa, Farawo and Chitemba are accused of communicating or publishing false statements after publishing a story alleging that a top police officer was implicated in poaching.

It is alleged that the publication of the alleged false statement adversely affected the tourism industry and the economy.