trial
Dumisani Khumalo
Top Zimbabwean politicians and officials are expected to testify in the sodomy trial of former president Canaan Banana, one of the most sensational cases in Zimbabwean criminal history which got under way this week.
The witness list includes Vice- President Simon Muzanda; Minister ofEJustice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Emmerson Mnangagwa; two former police commissioners; retired chief air marshal Josiah Tungamirai; and air force Commander Perence Shiri. The state claims they all received formal complaints of Banana’s alleged acts and ignored them.
Banana is facing 11 counts of sodomy, attempted sodomy and indecent assault in the Harare High Court. President from independence in 1980 until his retirement in 1987, he has pleaded not guilty.
The state alleges Banana took advantage of his position as head of state to coax male employees attached to state house into sexual relations. He allegedly had those who turned down his advances punished, claiming they had committed acts of misconduct.
Leading the state’s case is Augustine Chikumira, director of public prosecutions in the attorney general’s office. He told the court Banana abused his authority to sexually molest some of his male subordinates, including personal bodyguards and a cook.
Judge President Godfrey Chidyausiku has imposed a ban on identifying all the complainants except Jefta Dube, who is serving a 10-year jail sentence for the murder last year of Banana’s former aide-de-camp after he teased him about his relations with Banana.
Chikumira said the court has to protect the identities of the other complainants to avoid causing them undue prejudice.
Dube was the first state witness this week. He said Banana spotted him when he played soccer for a police team. Several messages were sent to him and this resulted in a meeting at Banana’s office, where he was offered the position of bodyguard.
Dube said the former president – who smiled constantly while Dube testified – told him the move would enhance his prospects of promotion.
He was invited to Banana’s offices towards the end of 1983. After a meal, he and Banana played a game of cards and drank whisky. Banana started playing music and said it was important for Dube to learn how to dance to avoid embarrassment during state functions. While they were dancing, Banana squeezed his body and forcibly kissed him.
He said Banana patted him on the buttocks, saying: “This is food for the bosses.”
“He then told me to leave his office briefly while he made a telephone call. He told me to leave my drink behind as he was not going to take long.
“After about 10 minutes, he called me back and I resumed drinking while we played cards. I then started feeling dizzy, weak and tired.”
Dube said the next thing he remembers is finding himself on the carpeted floor, lying on a duvet with just his shirt on while his trousers and underwear were on a sofa nearby. He also noticed that his buttocks were wet.
He did not report the incident because he feared it would lower his esteem and misfortune would befall him.
He said during 1985 and 1986 Banana would call him to his office and sodomise him.
The trial continues.