Madiro allegedly stole Mugabe cattle
By Staff Reporter
MUTARE – Suspended Zanu-PF Manicaland chairman, Mike Madiro and his acting predecessor Dorothy Mabika were today arraigned before Mutare provincial magistrate Lucie-Anne Mungwari facing allegations of stock-theft.
Mabika (47) is also facing a separate stock-theft charge and another charge of defeating the course of justice.
In all the cases Madiro’s sworn enemy and Presidential Affairs Minister Didymus Mutasa, Zanu-PF National secretary for youth affairs Absalom Sikhosana, journalist-cum politician Supa Mandiwanzira and the party’s provincial secretary for administration Kenneth Saruchera, will testify.
Madiro and Mabika, who blame their predicaments on Mutasa’s struggle for power, are accused of stealing 10 beasts donated towards President Mugabe’s birthday held in 2012.
In the other case Mabika allegedly got six dairy heifers from a white farmer David Jubert on behalf of Zanu-PF. She allegedly failed hand over the heifers to the party.
It is further alleged when Mabika got the wind that Chief Supt Crispen Makedenge was probing the matter, she doctored minutes of the proceedings of a Zanu PF provincial meeting to the effect that the six heifers had died due to lack of milk and necessary stock feed.
Area Public Prosecutor, Ms Jane-Rose Matsikidze, argued that her actions were deliberately designed to conceal the offence.
Mrs Mungwari presided over both cases.
The suspects were represented by Mr Tinofara Hove of T.K Hove and Associates and were not asked to plead.
In the joint stock theft case, the two were granted $150 bail and ordered to stay put at given addresses and not to interfere with witnesses.
The matter was remanded to 22 April for trial.
Mabika was again granted another $150 bail and the same conditions for the two additional charges she was facing.
Her sole trial kicks off on May 2.
Ms Matsikidze told the court that on an unknown date in 2012 at Farm 39 Middle Sabi, Chipinge the two received 10 cattle on behalf of the 2012 February Movement and did not surrender them to Zanu PF.
The cattle were kept at John Chirimambowa’s farm in Chipinge.
Mrs Christine Tsungai-Nyamaropa, who stood for the State in the case against Mabika said on September 7, 2011 at Shiriyakangwara Farm in Chipinge – where Mabika resides – the accused received six dairy heifers on behalf of Zanu-PF from white farmer, Dawid Hercules Jourbert and helped herself with the donated bovines.
“Knowing that police were investigating the stock theft case, resulting from her receipt of the six cattle as donation to Zanu-PF which she stole, the accused altered minutes of the Zanu-Pf Manicaland Provincial executive meeting held on 21 November 2011 to reflect that the said animals had died due to lack of milk and stock feed.”
Mabika allegedly commanded Angawache Maenda and Lucy Gorowa to manipulate the minutes in her desperate bid to conceal incriminating evidence.
