Mubawu, associate denied bail

Mubawu, associate denied bail

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By Staff Reporter

A ZIMBABWEAN magistrate on Wednesday rejected an application for bail by an opposition MP accused of inciting public violence.

Timothy Mubawu, the MDC Member of Parliament for Mabvuku, was charged alongside Abraham Kurimakwaramba following an attack on another MDC MP and three party supporters.

Both are accused of "participating in a gathering with the intent to provoke public violence, breach of peace or bigotry," prosecutors said.

In a brief ruling, magistrate Faith Mushure said: "The course of justice would be hampered if they are released on bail."

She remanded the MP and his associate in custody to July 26, pending trial.

Mubawu handed himself to police on Monday after three other suspects were arrested on Sunday in pre-dawn raid on what was described as an "MDC safehouse" in Greendale, a Harare suburb.

Five more were arrested in the MP's constituency.

Trudy Stevenson, MP for Harare North, was attacked the previous Sunday while visiting Mabvuku and afterwards claimed she had been attacked by militant youths of an MDC faction loyal to Morgan Tsvangirai.

Stevenson belongs to a faction led by former student leader Arthur Mutambara.

State prosecutor Servicus Kufandada opposed bail, saying the MP was "likely to tamper with investigations".

The MDC split late last year.

Mubawu and Kurimakwaramba are said to have organised a meeting at number 17 Donnybrook Road in Greendale (Mubawu’s residence) on July 2 that was attended by Kudakwashe Kaparamura, Pension Gomo Norman Manyani and Simbarashe Zhuwao and others still at large.

Gomo and Kuparamura are already in remand prison, facing similar charges.

The State alleges that at the meeting, Mubawu told the gathering that they had to defend Mabvuku from the rival faction of the MDC led by former student leader, Arthur Mutambara at all costs even if it meant physically attacking them.

Mubawu allegedly gave $15 million to ensure that what he said was carried out
while Kurimakwaramba donated $5 million towards the same cause.

“The accused had gathered that an MDC pro-senate group led by Getrude Stevenson had visited the constituency and was going to come back that day to pick up their supporters for the meeting to be held at Hillside, Harare,” the State alleged.

After the meeting, Manyani, Gomo and Zhuwao are alleged to have organised a group of about 20 people to gather information about the pro-senate group.

“Armed with sticks, stones, iron bars and knobkerries, Manyani, Kuparamura and Zhuwao led the group to Portland Cement ground where Stevenson, Paul Mushonga and Manyere were organising the MDC pro-senate faction for the meeting in Hillside,” the State further alleges.

The group then allegedly severely assaulted Stevenson and her group near Circle Cement while on their way back from setting up their faction’s structures in Mabvuku.
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