Key witness denies being kidnapped in WOZA leaders’ trial

Magodonga Mahlangu and Jennifer Williams

By Tererai Karimakwenda
20 December, 2011

WOZA leaders Jennifer Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu appeared in the Magistrates Court in Bulawayo on Monday and Tuesday, facing trumped up kidnapping and theft charges.

The key witness, Emma Mabhena, did not turn up on Monday after failing to show last week. The police claim she was kidnapped by Williams and Mahlangu but when she finally testified on Tuesday, she strongly denied she was ever kidnapped or physically forced into a vehicle by the WOZA leaders.

This contradicted the statement the police claim was signed by the 75 year old Mabena. A statement from WOZA said she, “disassociated herself with most of the statement penned in her name by police officers.”

On Monday Magistrate Goodluck Sangweni had proceeded with the second witness, Bokani Nleya, whose testimony also contradicted the statement police claim she signed at the time of the WOZA leaders’ arrest.

A statement from WOZA said: “When pressed she said that the police officer recording the statement had altered the name in her statement.” Several other details in Nleya’s testimony did not match the police records.

Williams and Mahlangu have always claimed they are innocent and the police are trying to manufacture a case against them, in order to destabilize the pressure group.

The trial continues on Wednesday with cross examination of the final witness.