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Marvelous Moyo Gwanda Correspondent
THE trial of a Gwanda war veteran who allegedly called the Minister of Rural Development, Preservation of Culture and Heritage, Abedinico Ncube a dog continued yesterday with the minister saying he heard about the insult from a party member.

Minister Ncube, 61, yesterday told magistrate Olivia Mashava Mashaire that he was not happy when he was informed that Ngenangaphi Ndlovu, 55, of Nelson Ranch had insulted him saying that he was a dog.

“I was told that the accused person started chanting slogans insulting me during a meeting in Guyu. I was not at the meeting but was told what happened. He said that I was a dog and said ‘Down with Abedinico Ncube.’

“I’m not a dog, I don’t have four legs and a tail, neither do I’ve a long mouth like that of a dog.

“I’m a human being and I’m bound to be hurt and when one is hurt he or she ends up taking the law into his or her own hands but as someone who knows that we’ve laws that guide us, I had to report the matter and let the law take its course,” he said.

Minister Ncube said there was no bad blood between him and Ndlovu.

He told the court that Ndlovu once insulted him during a Zanu-PF meeting.

He said he reported Ndlovu to the police but later forgave him after he apologised, saying he had been drunk. “Since I’m someone who reads the Bible, I forgave him because the Bible says we should forgive one another,” said Minister Ncube.

He said with the recent incident, he was not sure what Ndlovu was planning against him.

“Who knows, maybe he will end up killing me. Politics is somehow a different game,” Minister Ncube said.

He said the police officers stationed at Guyu Police Station Mzimazisi Nyathi, 27, and Simbarashe Maozho, 24, would not undermine the law by giving false testimony against Ndlovu in court since they were law enforcing agents.

The two officers together with the Matabeleland South provincial war veterans’ vice chairperson Section Ncube, 57, recently told the court that they heard Ndlovu insulting the Minister.

“I’m also normal and right in my senses. There is no way I can go to the police and give false information against you because I’ve no reason for doing that neither do I consume alcohol. In my 61-years-old, I’ve never consumed alcohol, I only drink tea and water,” said Minister Ncube during cross examination.

Ndlovu admitted saying “Down with Abedinico Ncube” but denied saying “Let’s remove this dog.”

He said those who said they heard him utter the words could have misunderstood him.

“I believe they misunderstood me. I do admit that I said ‘Down with Abedinico Ncube’ but I deny that I said he was a dog,” Ndlovu said.

Ndlovu who is charged with disorderly conduct in a public place indicated he would bring five witnesses for his defence case.

The matter continues on Monday.

On November 13, 2015, at around 1PM, war veterans held a meeting at Guyu Vocational Training Centre where Ndlovu allegedly stood up and chanted a slogan in Ndebele language saying, “Phansi loAbedinico Ncube. Asikhipheni inja le (Down with Abedinico Ncube. Let’s remove this dog).”