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(HERALD) State witness in Gwisai case had many identities: Defence

State witness in Gwisai case had many identities: Defence
Thursday, 15 December 2011 00:00
Court Reporter

THE defence in the case of former Highfield legislator Munyaradzi Gwisai and five others yesterday claimed that the State's star witness Detective Sergeant Jonathan Shoko was in the habit of sneaking into meetings masquerading as a journalist.

Gwisai, a University of Zimbabwe law lecturer, Antoneta Choto (36), Tatenda Mombeyarara (29), Edson Chakuma (38), Hopewell Gumbo (32) and Welcome Zimuto (25) are accused of inciting violence.

Lawyer Mr Alec Muchadehama, yesterday produced pictures he claimed were of Det Sgt Shoko taken at the MDC-T 12th anniversary dinner.

However, Det Sgt Shoko denied ever attending the dinner saying the pictures were for his look alike or they were doctored.

Prosecutor Mr Michael Reza had objected to the production of the pictures arguing that they may have been doctored.

"The issue in not the identity of this man where he was born, when his grandmother had measles . . .," he said.

Presiding magistrate Mr Kudakwashe Jarabini ruled that the defence had the right to ask anything and the prerogative of relevance lay with the court.

"You see yourself with a whole tray of meat thoroughly enjoying yourself," asked Mr Muchadehama to which Det Sgt Shoko denied.

Mr Muchadehama said like a typical intelligence operative Shoko changed his identities 13 times.

He said at times he masqueraded as a journalist using the name Rodwell Chitiyo and at times he is a political activist, tutor, student and a policeman among other titles.
He was a political activist at the ISO meeting where he chanted slogans and denigrated the President.

Det Sgt Shoko conceded that videos shown at the meeting of the Egyptian and Tunisian revolutions were not meant to incite people but to kill time.

He also said he was forgetting some of the events, which took place at the meeting.
The defence argues that Det Sgt Shoko is a member of the Central Intelligence Organisation and his real name is Rodwell Chitiyo.

The trial continues tomorrow.

The offence was allegedly committed on February 19 this year at Zimbabwe Labour Centre, at Number 43 Julius Nyerere Way in Harare.

The States says Gwisai, a co-ordinator of the International Socialist Organisation and his accomplices connived to forcibly disturb peace and public order in Zimbabwe.
It is alleged they agreed to mobilise Zimbabweans to revolt against the Government and demand the resignation of President Mugabe, the Egyptian way.

Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak, was forced to resign after a revolt in which Government buildings were burnt, vehicles stoned and several people were injured or killed by people taking part in the revolt.

They allegedly delivered speeches encouraging participants to mobilise people to revolt against the President.

They allegedly showed the people some videos and circulated some documents.

Labels: COURTS, MUNYARADZI GWISAI

posted by MrK @ 6:23 PM