Senior Court docket Reporter

The Relate the day gone by closed its case against Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) president Felton Kamambo after main its final ask, the investigating officer Inspector Blessing Matienga, who handled the matter.

Insp Matienga, who is officer-in-fee at Harare Industrial Crime Unit, told the court that Kamambo accused him of being unprejudiced real through investigations since he turned into as soon as linked to Philip Chiyangwa, who raised the bribery allegations.

He talked about Kamambo complained that his wife turned into as soon as employed as a trainer at Chiyangwa’s schoolm rendering him unprejudiced when handling the investigations.

“Such allegations maintain been raised and I even maintain explained such allegations to my employer.

“Philip Chiyangwa is founding father of a college the set my wife is employed. The allegations got right here after I turned into as soon as already investigating the matter,” he talked about.

Insp Matienga told the court that the accusations maintain been raised by the suspended ZIFA secretary total Joseph Mamutse and had written a letter of grievance to the police.

“It is upright there are accusations that maintain been raised by suspended total secretary Mamutse and likewise at one time restrict a letter turned into as soon as written by with out a doubt one of accused attorneys.

“The letter alleged that police Industrial Crimes Division investigated this matter and send to court the set prosecution turned into as soon as declined on grounds of insufficient recordsdata.

“Investigations maintain been made and printed that it turned into as soon as a shell docket,” he talked about.

Insp Matienga talked about he took over the matter from the Industrial Crimes Division and his investigations printed that 22 ZIFA councillors had been bribed to vote Kamambo into energy.

“I investigated the matter and 22 separate accounts maintain been paid,” he talked about.

Insp Matienga talked a few few of the witnesses maintain been escorted to the police predicament by attorneys, which affected their investigations when recording warned and cautioned statements.

He talked a few few of the witnesses told them real through investigations that the cash turned into as soon as reimbursement for costs incurred whereas attending campaign meetings.

“One of the most witnesses indicated that they maintain been refunds for cash they’d aged, from transport and meals, nonetheless in all cases I asked for proof or locations the set such providers and products maintain been given they normally failed to give me,” he talked about.

Requested real through unsuitable-examination to level why councillors who maintain been allegedly bribed by Kamambo maintain been from the Central and Southern space, Insp Matienga talked about they handiest arrested of us who maintain been paid cash when Kamambo turned into as soon as eligible to campaign.

Moreover asked whether he interviewed the major constituencies who send the councillors to vote on whether they voted in accordance to their resolutions or no longer, Insp Matienga talked about: “The principals didn’t formula me.”

After his testimony and Relate closed its case, Mr Gumiro indicated that Kamambo will apply for discharge at the conclude of Relate’s case on February 11.

Mr Michael Reza, appearing for the Relate, indicated that he’ll answer to the applying on February 16 before the court makes its resolution of February 23.