Former Bulawayo Deputy Mayor and businessman Gift Banda has appeared in court facing a charge of forgery of an Ordinary Level certificate.
Banda is in the running for the upcoming Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) elections.
The court heard that the alleged charge came to light after Banda allegedly produced the “fake” document which was needed as a pre-requisite for the ZIFA vice presidency post he is vying for.
He appeared before Bulawayo Western Commonage Magistrate Sibongile Msipa-Marondedze.
Through his lawyer, Everson Chatambudza, of Rubaya and Chatambudza Practitioners he pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Banda was freed on US$500 bail and remanded to January 3, 2025.
Upon arrival at the Western Commonage Court on Friday morning, Banda was accompanied by several members of the opposition party, including former deputy mayor Alderman Mlandu Ncube, Tendai Masotsha and former MP Richard Moyo among others.
According to the court documents, presented by Milton Moyo, Banda requested his ordinary level results slip from Mpopoma High School for an examination he allegedly sat for in 1986.
The court heard that Banda went to Mpopoma High School and asked Acting Headmistress, Sihle Sibanda, for the confirmation of his slip but it could not be found.
Prosecutor Moyo further alleged that after a fortnight, Banda alerted Sibanda that he had found his slip, but however, investigations showed that the center and candidate numbers belonged to one Sino Gumbo not Banda.
Chatambudza challenged the court allegations, stating that there was no evidence linking Banda to the offence.
“Chances of a conviction for the allegations he is facing are close to none. The charge is incompetent based on the facts of the matter. It is alleged he forged a certificate and tendered the same at his former school. The document was found in possession of the headmistress of the school, whom they allege obtained from my client,” he said.
“That is not forgery, in the closest charge, the State would have been fraud. Further to which, there is no evidence that my client had intentions to defraud anyone. The State did not bother to alter the charge, simply because there is no evidence. I have had the opportunity to look at the alleged document, it only bears the name Gift Banda, with nothing further to ascertain that he is the one in question.
“There is not even an ID number on the document. There could be numerous other people with that same name who could be owners of the document. The only evidence that ties my client to this case is the word of the alleged headmistress. I could have moved to apply for the dismissal of the charges, but for progress sake we are here to apply for bail.”
Chatambudza told the court that the allegations against Banda were malicious and aimed at soiling his name ahead of the tightly contested ZIFA elections.
“The story does not hold any water. Why would someone go to their former school to tender a result slip, when someone must go to the school to acquire one. These are just fabricated charges. My client is in a tightly contested case to run for a ZIFA position and a lot could be done to deter him,” he said.
