The trial of five alleged hitmen, who were supposedly hired to murder a local businessman after a significant sum of $800,000 was lost in a transaction, was delayed once again yesterday due to the complainant’s absence from court.
The accused, Moses Monde from Johannesburg, and Cape Town residents Malvin Manzinde, Malvin Tatenda Nyamuranga, Norbert Muponda, and Joshua Mapuranga, appeared before Magistrate Clever Tsikwa.
The court has rescheduled the trial to August 7.
State prosecutor Ephraim Zinyandu requested the postponement, explaining that the complainant, Oliver Tendai Chipundu, was delayed in London due to flight issues.
Additionally, Zinyandu requested a warrant for the arrest of the second witness, Bernard Bruce Chiweshe, also known as Bento, who failed to appear in court despite being subpoenaed.
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A warrant of arrest has been issued for Chiweshe. Meanwhile, Obrian Obert Mapurisa, the individual who allegedly orchestrated the crime, remains at large.
Mapurisa had agreed to purchase Liquefied Petroleum gas tankers in Turkey on behalf of Chipundu. Chipundu provided Mapurisa with $800,000 for the acquisition of seven tankers, paying the amount in installments over several dates.
In January, when Chipundu sought documentation for the tankers, Mapurisa became unresponsive. Chipundu then contacted Mimak Company in Turkey, which revealed that only a $132,000 deposit had been paid, and the full payment was still outstanding.
Chipundu confronted Mapurisa, who admitted to diverting the funds but promised to complete the payment. When Mapurisa continued to evade Chipundu’s refund requests, Chipundu traveled to Turkey on February 28 to negotiate more time to settle the payment, as the tankers were at risk of being sold to others.
Frustrated by Chipundu’s persistence, Mapurisa allegedly arranged for his elimination, hiring the five South African hitmen and providing them with Chipundu’s address and photograph.
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