Witness faints at Gasela poll petition hearing

Witness faints at Gasela poll petition hearing

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By Staff Reporter

A WITNESS for Zanu PF legislator, Josphat Madubeko, collapsed and fainted under intense cross examination at the Bulawayo High Court during former Gweru Rural MP Renson Gasela's election petition hearing last Friday.

Gasela, the opposition MDC’s spokesman for agriculture, wants the court to nullify Madubeko’s victory in the March parliamentary elections, claiming the election was held under a climate of fear and violence directed at his supporters. He also says his supporters were denied food.

Shortly before collapsing, a visibly perspiring Another Sibanda had been grilled on how food was distributed in rural Gweru. The court adjourned for about ten minutes as the Madubeko’s team resuscitated the witness.

Gasela is alleging that he lost to the Zanu PF headman because the ruling party used food to buy votes from the Gweru Rural constituents. Several witnesses gave testimony on how they were still being starved by the ruling party because of their support for the opposition.

After he was brought back to life, Sibanda a ruling party councillor, refuted allegations that he intimidated voters. He was accused by a witness for Gasela of leading a campaign of intimidation at a polling station while acting as polling agent for Madubeko.

Sibanda also rejected accusations that voters had to report to him before being allowed to enter the polling booth.

But Mathonsi maintained that Sibanda exploited his position as councillor. He charged that as an elderly man held in high esteem by villagers, Sibanda abused the people's trust by calling meetings saying they were intended to discuss food and aid issues, while the councillor knew they were Zanu PF campaign meetings.

Sibanda described claims of food politicisation and the intimidation of voters as “glaring lies.” He also argued that he loved members of his community, adding they love him as well.

But Mathonsi snapped back, and suggested that Sibanda was mistaking villagers' fear for love. He charged that Sibanda was a particularly notorious Zanu PF activist who is feared by most, adding residents will do anything he ordered.
Dumisani Khoza also testified in support of Madubeko. He told the court that he served as the respondent's polling agent at Indiva polling station.

Judge Maphios Cheda who is presiding in the test electoral court hearing is expected to deliver judgement by in the next two weeks. Witnesses for both Gasela and Madubeko have submitted their testimonies.
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