News / National
War vets, youths in court over Zanu-PF skirmishes
24 May 2017 at 06:55hrs | Views
BULAWAYO provincial war veterans chairman Cephas Ncube, three war veterans and three Zanu-PF youths who were involved in violent skirmishes on Sunday when rival groups fiercely clashed during the party's provincial provincial co-ordinating committee (PCC) meeting, appeared in court yesterday.
Ncube (59) of Nketa 8 suburb and fellow war veterans Juliet Sibanda (55) of Magwegwe North, Luke Mpofu (64) of Nkulumane and Abigail Nyamunda (53) of Tshabalala are facing assault charges following the chaos at the party's headquarters, Davies Hall.
Ncube is also separately charged with another offence of indecent assault for allegedly fondling Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial youth league chairperson Anna Mokgohloa.
The ruling party's youths – Davies Muhambi (35) of Burnside, Mabutho Moyo (32) of New Luveve and Bulawayo central district chairperson Magura Charumbira (34) of Trenance are facing charges of malicious damage to property.
They were all remanded out of custody to June 2 for trial by Bulawayo magistrate Mr Tinashe Tashaya.
Their lawyer Mr Tanaka Muganyi indicated that on the next court appearance date he would challenge his clients' further remand.
Mokgohloa was viciously assaulted by some war veterans while Charumbira was stabbed in the head and face during the brawl. Mokgohloa sustained injuries on the forehead while Charumbira sustained head injuries and they were both admitted to hospital.
Youths and war veterans laid an almost six hour siege at the hall while Central Committee members, Politburo members, provincial executives and legislators were holed up inside.
Anti-riot police had to be called to the party offices to control some youths who were trying to stop the executive from holding the meeting accusing the provincial leadership of supporting national commissar Saviour Kasukuwere.
Prosecuting, Mr Nkathazo Dlodlo said on May 21 this year, the accused persons were part of a gathering which intended to hold a meeting at Davies Hall in Bulawayo. The accused persons blocked the complainant, Mokgohloa, from entering the hall accusing her of being loyal to Kasukuwere.
The court heard that they hurled insults at her, saying she was a prostitute before dragging her to the fence where Ncube allegedly assaulted her all over the body before allegedly fondling her breasts.
"Ncube fondled the complainant's breasts and carried a physical search on her body as he accused her of possessing a knife that had been used to stab Charumbira. The complainant managed to escape and sought refuge inside the hall," said Mr Dlodlo.
Nyamunda is being accused of confronting the party's provincial secretary for security George Mlala and grabbing him by his belt before punching him in the face and striking him with a walking stick. Nyamunda was allegedly restrained by police from continuously attacking Mlala.
Mlala sustained a swollen face and suffered a headache as a result of the assault.
Muhambi, Moyo and Charumbira are accused of throwing stones and damaging window panes at Davis Hall during the scuffle.
Ncube (59) of Nketa 8 suburb and fellow war veterans Juliet Sibanda (55) of Magwegwe North, Luke Mpofu (64) of Nkulumane and Abigail Nyamunda (53) of Tshabalala are facing assault charges following the chaos at the party's headquarters, Davies Hall.
Ncube is also separately charged with another offence of indecent assault for allegedly fondling Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial youth league chairperson Anna Mokgohloa.
The ruling party's youths – Davies Muhambi (35) of Burnside, Mabutho Moyo (32) of New Luveve and Bulawayo central district chairperson Magura Charumbira (34) of Trenance are facing charges of malicious damage to property.
They were all remanded out of custody to June 2 for trial by Bulawayo magistrate Mr Tinashe Tashaya.
Their lawyer Mr Tanaka Muganyi indicated that on the next court appearance date he would challenge his clients' further remand.
Mokgohloa was viciously assaulted by some war veterans while Charumbira was stabbed in the head and face during the brawl. Mokgohloa sustained injuries on the forehead while Charumbira sustained head injuries and they were both admitted to hospital.
Anti-riot police had to be called to the party offices to control some youths who were trying to stop the executive from holding the meeting accusing the provincial leadership of supporting national commissar Saviour Kasukuwere.
Prosecuting, Mr Nkathazo Dlodlo said on May 21 this year, the accused persons were part of a gathering which intended to hold a meeting at Davies Hall in Bulawayo. The accused persons blocked the complainant, Mokgohloa, from entering the hall accusing her of being loyal to Kasukuwere.
The court heard that they hurled insults at her, saying she was a prostitute before dragging her to the fence where Ncube allegedly assaulted her all over the body before allegedly fondling her breasts.
"Ncube fondled the complainant's breasts and carried a physical search on her body as he accused her of possessing a knife that had been used to stab Charumbira. The complainant managed to escape and sought refuge inside the hall," said Mr Dlodlo.
Nyamunda is being accused of confronting the party's provincial secretary for security George Mlala and grabbing him by his belt before punching him in the face and striking him with a walking stick. Nyamunda was allegedly restrained by police from continuously attacking Mlala.
Mlala sustained a swollen face and suffered a headache as a result of the assault.
Muhambi, Moyo and Charumbira are accused of throwing stones and damaging window panes at Davis Hall during the scuffle.
Source - chronicle
