By Staff Reporter

THE trial of four Zanu PF activists facing charges of robbing and stealing foodstuffs worth $10,000 from Harare businessman, Tafadzwa Musarara’s truck on the eve of Zanu PF primary elections April this year started Tuesday at the Bindura Magistrate Courts with all the State witnesses called to give evidence.

The incident happened in Mashonaland Central’s Concession area.

The four accused persons are all aligned to Zanu PF Mashonaland Central provincial chair and cabinet minister, Kazembe Kazembe.

They are Boyd Fungulani, Shingirai Chisango, Lens Faranando and Jonah Gwenya.

Musarara and Kazembe were contesting for the party’s sole ticket to contest the July 30 parliamentary election in Mazowe West.

The State, after the four witnesses including Musarara had given their evidence, closed its case before the presiding magistrate, Vongai Muchuchuti postponed the matter to Monday 9 July for the defence to present its case.

The accused persons, according to State papers, on the midnight of 28 April at Dandamera Shopping Centre in Concession, pounced on a 30 tonne flour and mealie meal loaded truck belonging to Musarara and ordered the driver, one Bachelor Mpalane to surrender the car keys to them.

They allegedly beat him up and looted food stuffs which included flour worth $12,000.

Only food stuffs worth $885 were recovered.

The case was reported at Concession Police Station who referred it to Bindura CID section leading to the arrest of the four.

Two of the accused persons, Faranando and Gwenya are being represented by Zvidzai Kajokoto of Kajokoto and company while the other two are standing in on their own.

All of them are, however denying the charges.

Musarara and the three other witnesses are being advised by Tymon Tabana of Rubaya and Chatambidza legal practitioners.