MUTARE - Giles Mutsekwa, former Housing and Social Amenities minister, on trial for assaulting an MDC colleague in the build up to last year’s elections, was on Monday put to his defence and denied masterminding the assault.
Mutsekwa, who was fingered in ordering the assault of Chrispen Dube and transporting his assailants to and from the crime scene, flatly denied any involvement in the incident when he appeared before Mutare Magistrate Noah Gwatidzo.
Malvern Musarurwa was prosecuting.
The former minister said his involvement in the incident was limited to assigning his driver to ferry Kingstone Mutandi and Mutare Mayor Tatenda Nhamarare to go and rescue Happy Chidziwa whom he said had called for help as he had been “kidnapped.”
“They wanted to rescue someone who had been kidnapped,” Mutsekwa said, branding accusations against him a political smear campaign.
Mutsekwa refused to answer some questions, professing ignorance of what happened as he said he was in his office when the crime allegedly occurred.
His driver Lawrence Kachipare, while claiming responsibility for driving the vehicle, professed ignorance of everything that happened outside his vehicle, claiming to have been on Whatsapp, on a call with his wife or just relaxing.
This left Musarurwa “wondering” at a “VIP driver who relaxes”.
Kingstone Mutandi claimed to have assaulted Dube in retaliation. Dube is said to have thrown the first blow, which he said landed on his jaw, before punching him on his mouth, felling him, before kicking him once, with Nhamarare quickly coming in to pull him away.
The case continues today with Kingstone Mutandi facing cross examination.