Exiled MDC-T activist re-arrested

Beitbridge Bureau
A 30-YEAR-OLD exiled MDC-T activist who was in February arrested for attempting to illegally cross into South Africa using a passport belonging to another person has been re-arrested at Beitbridge Border Post on a similar mission. Wellington Makumbinde, who is a member of the party’s youth committee for mobilisation and was resident in
South Africa, was intercepted as he was about to leave the country on Saturday afternoon.
Makumbinde is a former assistant in the office of MDC T’s late secretary for foreign affairs Professor Elphas Mukonoweshuro and served between January 2005 and January 2009.
He is also the programmes co-ordinator for the Zimbabwe Exiles’ Forum in Johannesburg, South Africa and doubles as the governance programme officer for Institute for Democracy in Africa (IDASA) in Cape Town.
It is also understood that IDASA is the party’s think tank where MDC-T activists are attached to come up with election strategies.
Police officer commanding Beitbridge Chief Superintendent Lawrence Chinhengo said Makumbinde was arrested with other illegal immigrants during routine border                      patrols.
Makumbinde was yesterday brought to court for contravening section 4(20 as read with section 4(6) of the Protected Places Act Chapter 11.2.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges prompting the magistrate Mr Innocent Bepura to remand him in custody to 5 July for trial.
The State, led by Mr Tawonga Musina, alleges that Makumbinde arrived at the border post without travelling documents en route to South Africa.
He proceeded to the exit gate where he was intercepted by detectives on routine patrol who requested to see his passport.
It was then discovered that he had no passport resulting in his arrest.
On February 6 this year, Makumbinde was convicted by the same court for trying to cross into South Africa using Brian Tazviwana’ passport.
He was then sentenced to 12 months imprisonment which were wholly suspended for five years on condition he does not within the same period commit a similar offence.
The passport in question has since been forfeited to the State.
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