FORMER President Robert Mugabe last week blew
into the roof during inspection-in-loco at his former residence Zimbabwe House,
protesting against suggestions that he donated some of his computers to his
aides to secure his “escape” during the military’s Operation Restore Legacy
last November.
Speaking during cross-examination by lawyer Willard
Madzimba who was representing presidential guard Pepukai Zvakavapano who stands
accused of stealing Mugabe’s 119 laptops, the former Head of State reacted
angrily to suggestions that he wanted to escape the country.
Madzimbamuto had told the former President that he donated
the computers to Zvakavapano to bribe him for a safe passage after his
motorcade was blocked and searched by soldiers guarding the premises during the
military operation.
“To escape, never use the word escape on us, we never tried
to escape, why escaping? From who? Escaping from security forces that were
looking after us, escape to go where?” Mugabe shot back.
He added: “We cannot escape from our own country, we were
born here, we grew up here, we struggle for the country here, we shall never go
anywhere, unless we are going out for medical check-ups, otherwise Zimbabwe is
my home.”
Zvakavapano has denied the theft allegations, insisting the
goods were donated to him.
The accused initially claimed he picked the computers from
a bin at the Zimbabwe House and later said Mugabe donated the items to him.
During the inspection-in-loco, Zvakavapano again changed his version of the
events, saying he was given the computers by former First Lady Grace Mugabe.
But, Mugabe shot down the suggestion saying his wife could
not donate the computers without his consent. He also described Zvakavapano as
a stranger to him.
“I don’t know him. I never saw him, I did not donate
anything during that time and I don’t donate to individuals. If I want to
donate, I donate to schools. He (Zvakavapano) is still a stranger to me. My
motorcade was never stopped for searches by the military, we were not stopped
at all. I don’t know that my wife communicated with him. Why would she
communicate with him, who is he to my wife? He is just a stranger,” he further
told the court.
Mugabe said he was the owner of the stolen computers and
had left them under the care of his top aide, Wonder Nyamurima.
Allegations are that soon after Mugabe’s ouster last year,
Nyamurima was instructed to store the former Head of State’s property at
Zimbabwe House inside five containers in the polo grounds for security reasons.
The State alleges on April 3, Zvakavapano and an accomplice
only identified as Marega, were tasked to provide overnight security duties at
the property.
At around 2am, the duo allegedly broke into the containers
and stole seven computer monitors, CPUs, keyboards, mouses, pads, 57 Inspur
model laptops, 44 large and small Lenovo laptops, 18 HP printers, four Sahara
and Mercer complete desktop computer sets, as well as two Xerox printers.
Trial continues on July 23 before magistrate Josephine
Sande. Newsday
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