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Zimbabwe: Diesel N'anga's Case - Officials Bolt Out of Courtroom
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 Published by the government of Zimbabwe |
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The Herald (Harare)
10 May 2008
Posted to the web 12 May 2008
Harare
Official at the Chinhoyi Magistrates' Courts - including the lawyer representing Rotina Mavhunga, the diesel n'anga - this week bolted out of the courtroom when Mavhunga and her alleged two accomplices growled and made strange noises as they got into what seemed to be a trance.
The drama started during State witness Maxwell Musarurwa's testimony when defence lawyer Mr Chandavengerwa Chopamba of Mushonga and Associates asked him how they ended up going to Maningwa Hills - the site where the diesel was said to be coming from.
While responding to the question, Mavhunga suddenly slipped into a "trance", fell down and lay quiet for a few seconds before sitting up and speaking in a strange voice.
This prompted magistrate Mr Ignatius Mugova to pick up his papers and leave abruptly while calling on the court to adjourn with other officials following suit.
In an unfamiliar voice, the "spirit of Changamire Dombo" started questioning why the medium -- Mavhunga -- was being put on trial when the "spirit" was approached by Mashonaland West Governor and Resident Minister Cde Nelson Samkange with a request to make available diesel for the country's needs.
"Ndakakuudzai kuti muchandipandukira. Iye zvino maakundimisa pamberi pekadare kenyu. Kana pane mhosva iripo inotongerwa mumatare emumhepo. Ndosaka ndaikukudzimaidzai. Chiendererai mberi henyu asi muchazviona," she said.
The "medium" also contended that the "spirit" couldn't be put on trial by human beings, saying if any wrong was committed it would be dealt with in the spiritual realm. This is the second time that Mavhunga has gone into a "trance" during court proceedings. While Martin Mazvazvido, who is also on trial, was interpreting, he also went into a "trance" and the courtroom was filled with strange noises that could be heard from outside, prompting people to peep through windows and doors to catch a glimpse of what was taking place.
Another man from the public gallery joined in and started making strange noises and gestures. The "spirit" spoke for close to an hour before Mavhunga went quiet in the presence of a few prison officials and a few people who had remained in the courtroom. The proceedings were later resumed with Musarurwa testifying while another witness Solomon Chimedza, from the Chinhoyi University of Technology, explained how they got the sample of diesel for testing and the result which showed it was pure diesel.
Mavhunga is being jointly charged with Mazvazvido and Lyton Munodawafa Tauro (48) with defrauding the State of $5 billion and misrepresenting facts to public officials that diesel was oozing out of a rock. They are all denying the charges with Mavhunga saying if there was any wrong committed the "spirit of Changamire Dombo" should be punished.
Charges against the three arose some time last year when Mavhunga allegedly connived with her alleged accomplices and misrepresented facts to Cde Samkange that she had discovered diesel oozing out of a rock at Maningwa Hills in Chinhoyi through her supernatural powers.
Mavhunga's claims prompted Cabinet to appoint a taskforce to ascertain her claims, which allegedly turned out to be a hoax. She applied for bail saying that there was no food at remand prison and that she had a nagging toothache.
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The matter was remanded to June 17 for continuation of trial.
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