Freshly acquitted MDC-T murder suspect dies

By Tatenda Dewa | Harare Bureau |

Gabriel Shumba, the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) youth assembly secretary for lands and agriculture who was among 29 party members accused of killing a policeman in 2011 but later acquitted has passed on.

The MDC-T Harare province youth secretary, Denford Ngadziore, announced in a brief statement that Shumba, who was recently acquitted of the murder of Petros Mutedza during disturbances in Glen View, Harare, died at Harare Hospital after a long illness.

Justice Chinemebiri Bhunu recently convicted three MDC-T members, Tungamirai Madzokere (41) Yvonne Musarurwa (29) and Last Maengahama (40) for murdering Mutedza.

Bhunu also convicted a fourth member, Phineas Nhatarikwa (50), for offering the three transport after the murder.

Twenty of the accused persons were found not guilty and released at the close of the State’s case in 2013 while one of the MDC-T activists, Rebecca Mafikeni, succumbed to ill health while at Chikurubi Maximum Prison.

Shumba was among the remaining suspects.

Ngadziore said Shumba is survived by a wife and six children, adding that funeral arrangements would be made soon. Nehanda Radio