Court Reporter
HARARE – A former company executive accused of orchestrating the kidnapping and assault of a colleague to stop him from testifying in a fraud case has gone on trial at the Harare Magistrates Court.
The complainant, David Matanda, was allegedly abducted by a five-man gang from his Chitungwiza home in May 2025, held hostage for eight hours, and assaulted in a bid to silence him.
Alleged ringleader Simbarashe Emmanuel Martin Rondozai, 38, appeared before Harare provincial magistrate Mr Tapiwa Kuhudzai. He is charged with kidnapping or unlawful detention under Section 93 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
According to the State, Rondozai and four accomplices who remain at large went to Matanda’s residence in Chitungwiza at around 9pm in May 2025. The group was allegedly travelling in a silver Honda Fit.
Prosecutors say two of the accused knocked on the door claiming to be police officers. They told Matanda he was under arrest for an unspecified offence.
The State alleges Matanda was then forcibly taken from his home, driven to an unknown location, and assaulted over several hours. The motive, prosecutors argue, was to intimidate him into withdrawing or changing evidence in a fraud matter in which Rondozai was implicated.
Rondozai was not asked to plead when he appeared in court. The matter was remanded for trial continuation. Investigations to locate the four other suspects are ongoing.
