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Harare Bureau
THREE wives of jailed rapist Robert Martin Gumbura and their alleged five accomplices accused of photographing themselves naked, yesterday notified the court of their intentions to apply for refusal of further remand.Choice Neganje, 32, Amadeus Mutakwa, 32, Rutendo Sekai Mandiya, 28, Pamela Kandawire, 27, Runyararo Musvovi, 27, Veronica Mbanga, 27, Tendai Kwatara, 34, and Moreblessing Takawira, 35, are facing charges of contravening the Censorship and Entertainment Control Act.

Their matter was referred to the High Court early this year for review of the proceedings.

Through their lawyer Rekai Maposa of Maposa Ndomene and Maramba legal practitioners, the women advised the court that they would make the application on the next remand date if the State fails to proceed with their trial.

In response, the prosecutor Sharon Mashavira, told the court that the State was still waiting for the record which is under review at the higher court.

The magistrate Tendai Mahwe, remanded the matter to September 30.

On October 21, 2013 Victim Friendly Unit police officers received allegations that abuse of children and women was occurring at Gumbura’s house.

The following day, a Det Insp Sengwe, Assistant Insp Wade, Sergeant Chigova and Constable Mumba went to the house to conduct a search.

Police said they found 16 pornographic DVDs and 57 photographs of all the accused persons posing naked.

The pictures were taken to the Censorship and Entertainment Board for its opinion.

The chairman of Board of Censors, Herbert Malaba, concluded that 49 of the pictures were indecent and obscene.

He said they were to be rejected, banned and prohibited.

Meanwhile, two Harare Municipal police officers who allegedly “arrested” a taxi driver for parking at an undesignated place before strangling him on their way to the city’s recovery yard along Coventry Road, had their application for refusal of further remand dismissed.

Fanuel Toringepi, 33, and Hilda Chinya, 43, are facing murder charges.

The duo who have been on remand for seven months, argued that they have been on remand for a long time and advised the state to proceed by way of summons.

However, prosecutor Mashavira said the pair was facing a serious and a complex offence hence it was not in the interest of justice to grant their application.

Magistrate Mahwe conceded with Mashavira’s submissions and remanded the matter to September 31.

“Murder cases are complex and take time to investigate therefore the state should be afforded their chance to do thorough investigations,” he said.

It is alleged that on January 25, Dick Samuel Goliath, who was a taxi driver, parked his vehicle in the CBD waiting for passengers.

Toringepi and Chinya, who are employed by City of Harare traffic laws enforcement section, approached him and accused him of violating the municipal by-laws by parking at an undesignated place. They ordered him to drive to their recovery yard and suddenly grabbed him by the neck firmly until he lost consciousness, it is alleged.

The pair jumped out of the taxi and got into their recovery vehicle, which had arrived at the scene and drove away.

Goliath was rushed to the hospital and was pronounced dead on arrival.