MDC-T official locked up over intra-party violence

THE State media reports that the MDC-T parliamentary candidate for Makoni Central, Patrick Sagandira and two members of his campaign team, who were this week arrested on allegations of public violence, were on Tuesday locked up in remand after the State invoked Section 121 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act.

Sagandira was arrested on Monday, while his campaign manager, Lovemore Chifomboti and Moses Ndowa handed themselves over to the police on Tuesday morning.

The trio appeared before Rusape provincial magistrate, Mr Shingi Mutiro, who had granted each $100 bail.

Rusape area prosecutor, Mr Tirivanhu Mutyasira opposed bail.
The three will know their fate on July 2.

Their arrest follow alleged intra-party clashes that rocked the final round of polls to choose the party's parliamentary and council representatives for the next elections.

It was Mr Mutyasira's argument that the three attacked Grace Kwinjeh's campaign manager, Tazviona Marima, Canaan Nyamombe and one Yasin, using stones following a misunderstanding over the composition of the Electoral College.

"Grace Kwinjeh's faction and a section of Sagandira's haggled over the eligibility of some of those listed on the voters' roll. Sagandira's faction started assaulting and attacking Kwinjeh's faction with stones, and as a result Tazviona Marima (45), of Mabvazuva, Rusape, sustained a cut on the lip and made a report to the police on the same day," said Mr Mutyasira.

Mr Mutyasira further argued that the trio should be detained as they were facing a serious offence, likely to interfere with witnesses and investigations and to continue committing similar offences during the campaigns.

He said their other co-accused were still at large, and likely to team up with them and attack other party supporters.
Rusape lawyer, Mr Leonard Chigadza, of Chigadza and Associates, represented the accused persons.

Mr Chigadza, who was assisted by Mr Taurai Khupe, said his clients were denying the charges, accusing the Kwinjeh faction, led by Marima, who is the party's organising secretary for Makoni Central of sparking commotion by doctoring the list of voters to sway the vote in their candidate's favour.

Mr Chigadza said Sagandira was being persecuted by his political rivals following his victory last Saturday.
"My clients are proper candidates for bail.

"They are not flight risks and Sagandira has just won a ticket to represent his party, the MDC-T, in the next general elections.

"He knew of the charges before his eventual arrest and never interfered with witnesses and investigations," said Mr Chigadza.

Mr Mutiro had ruled n favour of the defence, saying there was no evidence adduced in court to prove that the three, if granted bail, would commit similar offences as well as interfering with evidence.

Mr Mutiro also ruled that the fact that someone was facing a serious offence was not a reason to deny them bail, to which Mr Mutyasira reacted by invoking Section 121, and effectively thwarted the accused's quest for freedom.

The legislation gives the prosecution seven days to lodge an appeal against the issuance of bail to the High Court.
This means the nomination court will seat while Sagandira will be in prison.

Mr Chigadza later said he was working frantically to ensure that Sagandira's papers were in order ahead of Friday's nomination.

Mr Chigadza said either him or an agent will submit his documents to the nomination court.

Kwinjeh's disputing Sagandira's victory. She pulled 222 votes while Sagandira polled 280.