An army major has been named in the trial proceedings following the jailed Zimbabwe People’s Front political party president, Owen Kuchata, who the state says attempted to petrol bomb the First Family’s Alpha Omega Dairy Farm.
Kuchata, according to state papers, paid $20 to one of his alleged accomplices – a soldier – so that he could source army uniforms to use when committing crimes.
Borman Ngwenya (30) told the court that Kuchata wanted more than five pairs of army regalia.
Ngwenya said he was a member of Kuchata’s political party after he had been ordered by his superiors at the ZNA to join Kuchata and spy on him. He maintained that it was a military-sanctioned operation which he had been tasked to do by one Major Mashava and Sergeant Mahachi.
Ngwenya said he kept Major Mashava informed of the activities. He appeared before magistrate Ms Fadzai Mthombeni for continuation of trial. “Major Mashava came to me in the company of Sgt Mahachi and Makumbe. As an intelligent officer, Major Mashava said he wanted to use me so that they could apprehend Kuchata. He said I should join his political party and spy on him and relay the message back to ZNA,” he said.
“After convincing Kuchata, I joined his party and he told me he wanted brave and strong men in the party. After some days he told me of his plans to bomb President Mugabe’s properties. I kept informing Major Mashava of our meetings with Kuchata and his plans. Major Mashava told me to play along adding that Makumbe was also going to join me.”
He added, “Kuchata later asked if it was possible for me to source army uniforms from our factory. He then gave me $20 to bribe the person who was going to give us the uniforms. After informing Major Mashava, he told me to use the $20 for transport so that I would be able to meet Kuchata whenever he wanted us to meet. As per Major Mashava’s advice, I kept lying to Kuchata that the uniforms were coming.”
Ngwenya further said that he then introduced Makumbe to Kuchata as the person who was going to give us the uniforms.
He said they went to President Mugabe’s rural home on January 1 for reconnaissance adding that Kuchata had also planned to bomb his rural home.
Ms Mthombeni rolled over the matter to today for continuation of trial.
Ngwenya is being represented by Mr Exactly Mangezi while Mr Michael Reza is prosecuting.
It is alleged that on January 22, around 4pm, police received a tip-off that the four were planning to bomb Alpha Omega Dairy’s processing plant and tuckshop during the night.
Acting on the tip-off, police proceeded to the farm and laid an ambush about 100 metres from the quartet’s target. At around 10pm, the detectives saw the men approaching the dairy’s processing plant and immediately arrested them.