By Lionel Saungweme| The trial of twelve Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) members, accused of Contravening section 36(1) (a)(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23 (Public Violence), over the 4 March 2018 violence at the party offices in Bulawayo, has kicked off.
The dispute arose after Thokozani Khupe and Abednigo Bhebhe, respectively MDC-T Vice President and National Organising Secretary at the time, allegedly gate-crushed a provincial elections directorate meeting. A physical fight for the venue ensued between supporters of Khupe, who were holed up inside the party office and premises, with those backing MDC-T President, Nelson Chamisa, who were outside the venue.
During the fight bricks, iron bars and stones were used as weapons. Five office window panes valued at $150 were broken and five vehicles were damaged leading to the arrest of 12 party cadres.
A “Land Rover Discovery, Registration Number AEI 1831 belonging to the Parliament of Zimbabwe, used by Thokozani Khupe,” sustained a “damaged windscreen, rear screen and side windows valued at $2000. A white Honda Fit vehicle registration number ADP 0783 had its quarter glass smashed while a grey Honda Fit registration number AEE 2897 was left with a “damaged windscreen and two dents on the bonnet valued at $200.” A Nissan XTrail registration number AEO 6470 had a “damaged windscreen valued at $500” while a Toyota Fortuner also known as the Toyota SW4 whose South African plates read FV 31VN GP got a “damaged windscreen and all windows valued at $2500.”
A report was lodged with the police leading to the arrest of Mlandu Ncube, Gift Banda, Felix Mhaka, Kunashe Muchemwa, Raymond Dudzayi Gombedza, Robson Tera, Donaldson Mabutho, Michael Mubasa (sic), Takunda Madzana, Sibongubuhle Sibanda, Gono Erick and Edith Moyo. The 12 are respectively cited as accused persons in court papers.
At the start of trial complainant, Artwell Sibanda, took to the witness’ stand. He stated that a meeting was “called by national leadership, specifically the Vice President Thokozani Khupe and National Organising Secretary Abednigo Bhebhe.”
“I was tasked with security operations. We received intelligence that there were some people who were planning to disrupt the meeting owing to political differences amongst the top echelons of leadership.
“I received information that Accused Number 5 (Raymond Dudzayi Gombedza) and others had locked the offices and had instructed the security guards to leave the premises. At about 9am, I instructed Alfred Ncube to use an alternative key to unlock the gate. I also approached members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police [Police Internal Security Intelligence (PISI)] and spoke to Tapi informing him of the impending disruptions and he assured us that no violent activities will take place.
“Police structures started vetting people entering the venue of meeting. At around 11am, I noticed people from the Youth Wing and Women’s Wing and the Main Wing together at various points around the offices. I alerted the same PISI officers of the impending violent acts. When the meeting started Accused Number One (Cllr Mlandu Ncube) and Accused Number 12 (Edith Moyo) approached the offices from the intersection of 2nd Avenue/Fort St and were headed towards the office.
“As I approached them Accused Number One (Cllr Mlandu Ncube) whispered to Hon Dorothy Bhebhe to drive off as they now wanted to work. Accused Number One gestured to other people to follow him. I then moved to the offices where I observed Accused Number One (Cllr Mlandu Ncube, Four (Kunashe Muchemwa), Five (Raymond Gombedza) and others charging towards the offices.
“Accused Number Six (Robson Tera), Seven (Donaldson Mabutho), Nine (Takunda Madzana), Ten (Sibongubuhle Sibanda), Eleven (Erick Gono) and Twelve (Edith Moyo) were coming from the direction of 2nd Avenue. Accused Number Six (Robson Tera) stoned a white Honda Fit vehicle damaging its rear window on the right side in full view of the PISI officer (Tapi) I mentioned before. The rest of the Accused persons started stoning the security details who were at the entrance in the process injuring people, damaging cars including the one owned by Vice President Khupe.
“Leading the people who stoned the vehicle were Accused Number One (Cllr Mlandu Ncube). Accused Number Nine (Takunda Madzana) then went to the building adjacent the MDC premises and started stoning vehicles and people. That is when a Toyota Fortuner, which is a South African vehicle was stoned.
“Thokozani Khupe’s driver, Witness Dube, tried to flee in a Land Rover Discovery vehicle. He fled going to the 3rd Avenue direction. At the robots (traffic lights) I told him to turn into the sanitary lane. The lane was blocked by a kombi whose driver was nowhere to be seen. He has to use the 2nd Avenue entry to the sanitary lane where he parked the vehicle at the back door.
“When we instructed the VP (Miss Thokozani Khupe) to get into the vehicle she refused and the mob was also gathering blocking the alley (sanitary lane) and the driver (Witness Dube) drove off towards 2nd Avenue and in the process Accused Number Nine (Takunda Madzana) threw a stone that hit the driver on the forehead. The driver drove towards Fort Street and was received by a hail of stones until he decided to flee to make a report at Bulawayo Central Police Station.
“In the meantime, I instructed some security personnel to form a human barricade to allow Hon Bhebhe to drive off to Bulawayo Central Police Station. I also drove off to Bulawayo Central Police Station to make a report.
The trial continues.