'Mugabe must go' activists assaults a policeman

MAKONI North MDC-T aspiring legislator, David Tekeshe and an opposition activist, Willard Nyazorwe yesterday appeared at Rusape Magistrates' Court facing charges of assaulting a police officer.

Tekeshe was handed another charge of disorderly conduct when he appeared before magistrate, Shingi Mutiro, who further remanded the duo, who are out on bail, to December 15.
Nyazorwe and Tekeshe first appeared in court last month and were released on $200 bail each by the same magistrate.

Thomas Tumbare represented the State, while Tekeshe and Nyazorwe were represented by Taurai Khupe of Khupe Law Chambers.

Another MDC-T activist, Tazviona Marima, also appeared in the same court yesterday facing a criminal nuisance charge for allegedly flashing a red card inscribed "Mugabe must go".

Mutiro said the case would proceed by way of summons.

Tekeshe and Nyazorwa were arrested last month when Marima, who is the MDC-T provincial organising secretary, appeared in court for flashing the red card.

While he was being released on $100 bail, about 100m away from the courtroom, almost 200 opposition supporters, led by Tekeshe, had gathered to offer their support.

Police officers allegedly took turns to beat up Tekeshe with batons and unleashed dogs on him.

Problems for Marima started when he applied for police clearance to hold demonstrations against "Zanu-PF's misrule".

Marima's letter to the police read: "The intended date of demonstration shall be October 23 from 9am to 5:30pm. People will be waving some placards and banners saying 'Robert G Mugabe must go now, he failed because he has broken his oath of office and abused his powers and approved violence'."

But Marima was summoned to the police station where he was allegedly told by the officer commanding police in Rusape District, Chief Superintendent Garikai Gwangwava, that there was no space for demonstrations against Mugabe.

Marima alleged police officers then took turns to assault him.