AN accomplice witness in the trial of suspended ZIFA president, Felton Kamambo, could not testify in court yesterday after the magistrate declined to let him take the stand.

Artwell Moyo was censured by deputy Chief Magistrate Bianca Makwande after he went to court wearing a pair of jeans and a T-shirt.

Five other accomplice witnesses were yesterday discharged after Makwande ruled they had given satisfactory evidence.

Kamambo, who is facing bribery charges, was back in court yesterday for trial continuation.

The witnesses were dubbed “accomplice witnesses” since the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) believes they have allegedly committed the same offence, together with Kamambo, by receiving the alleged bribe.

Makwande explained the term to the witnesses. “You are an accomplice witness because it is being alleged that you have committed the same offence, which Kamambo is facing.

“You are therefore, coming in to assist the court and the State, and you’re expected to give satisfactory evidence.

“You are expected not to divert from your statement and to properly answer questions and the court may absolve you of the charge of bribery and, if you fail, the State can charge you for bribery.”

First to testify was Nkosilathi Ncube, the acting CEO of the Gwanda Rural District Council.

Ncube said during the elections, in question, he was the provincial chairman for Matabeleland North.

“I recall receiving money from Kamambo before the election and the money was for reimbursement of travel expenses.

“It’s common practice that people who participate in the election reimburse participants for their travel and subsistence expenses,” he said.

Quizzed by Kamambo’s lawyer, Advocate Tawanda Zhuwarara during cross examination, Ncube told the court he was never approached by Kamambo after the election, about who he had voted for.

Rogers Masuku testified next and reiterated what Ncube said.

He told the court he was based in Dete and travelled to Bulawayo to attend Kamambo’s campaign meeting.

After the meeting, he received the money to cover his expenses.

Patrick Doro told the court he received $80, through his EcoCash platform, from Kamambo.

“He gave me the money to reimburse the fuel I had used to attend his campaign meeting and he didn’t ask me to vote for him after sending the money,” he said.

Francis Mtuta and Andrew Tapela told the court they received money from Kamambo to cover their expenses and it wasn’t meant to influence them to vote for him.

Stanselous Runyararo Nyachowe, from Mt Darwin, told the court he received $400 for fuel from Kamambo to attend his campaign meeting.

Trial couldn’t continue after Kamambo asked to be excused in order to prepare for his flight to Qatar to attend the FIFA Arab Cup final.