Zimbabwe Electoral Commission chairperson Justice Rita Makarau last week denied assigning anyone to apply for a new registration book or duplicate plates on her behalf while testifying in a car theft scam involving an ex-policeman.
Justice Makarau took to the witness stand, led by prosecutor Kudzai Chigwedere against ex-CID Detective Gilbert Zvaita who allegedly affixed the Judge’s damaged vehicle’s number plates on a stolen car.
Zvaita is facing unlawful entry and theft of a motor vehicle charges. Justice Makarau told the court that she never tasked anyone to collect a duplicate registration book or vehicle number plates.
She indicated that there was no reason to do so as her car was declared a write-off during an accident in 2010. She also told the court that she did not know the late Golden Magwenju who died in a police shoot-out, who was another suspected armed robber who participated in the theft of the vehicle affixed Justice Makarau’s number plates.
During cross examination by defence lawyer Benjamin Chidenga, Justice Makarau was asked to comment on the claim by Zvaita that he was sent by the late Magwenju’s wife to collect the book and duplicate plates.
Justice Makarau said she would not know, nor would she be aware of whether the plates were still affixed to her car which is at American Motors garage in Graniteside, Harare, after it was declared a write-off.
In his defence, Zvaita through his lawyer told the court that he was sent by Magwenju’s wife who is still on the run to handle the process.
Another witness Brian Mageta,the investigating officer who testified on Tuesday told the court that investigations revealed that Zvaita applied for a duplicate registration book for a stolen vehicle on the pretext that he had been sent by Justice Makarau.
Mageta revealed that Zvaita approached Central Vehicle Registry officials and lied that he was sent by Justice Makarau, before being issued with a duplicate registration book, the court heard.
Mageta added that when Zvaita was arrested, he failed to give a satisfactory answer as to how he was sent by Justice Makarau. Regional magistrate Mr Hosea Mujaya postponed the matter to today for continuation of trial.
Mrs Chigwedere alleges that on February 28, Zvaita and his accomplices, Golden Magwenju and Joseph Makanuka, who are now both late, broke into Zvishiri’s house in Mutare.
It is further alleged that some of the property they stole included a 40 inch TV, home theatre, various clothes and cellphones. They allegedly took Mr Zvishiri’s car keys and drove off in his Isuzu KB250 after loading the loot.
On June 5, it is said Zvaita went to Southerton Police Station where he reported that registration book of the vehicle which belongs to Justice Makarau was lost in the CBD.
After making the alleged misrepresentation, it is said Zvaita obtained a lost property list form, the ZRP Form 162 with Lost Property Book Reference number 356/13 and went to CID Vehicle Theft Squad where he obtained a clearance CVR 4 form.
Zvaita allegedly used the CVR 4 form to apply for a duplicate registration book and new number plates at CVR.
It is the State’s case that he was issued with new registration plates in Justice Makarau’s name and he affixed them on the car they had stolen from Mr Zvishiri who lost property valued at US$45 000. The Herald
