Tendai Biti in trouble

A Harare magistrate has issued a warrant of arrest to MDC Alliance vice president Tendai Biti for failing to appear in court where he is accused of verbally assaulting and physically threatening a Russian national outside the courtroom.

Magistrate Chido Garwe issued the warrant after Biti's name was called three times outside the courtroom without response. Similarly, Biti's lawyer, Alec Muchadehama did not turn up for court.

Prosecutor Michael Reza who presided over the case said he had prepared for the trial but ‘Biti's actions delayed the proceedings.'

The commencement of trial has been postponed on several occasions.

On his last remand in July, the court almost issued a warrant of arrest for Biti after he claimed that he had come into contact someone who had tested positive for Covid-19 hence he needed to isolate.

It is the State's case that on November 30 last year, the complainant was walking out of court at the Harare Magistrate Court where she had attended a case of fraud involving her employer.

The complainant was in the company of Simbarashe Kadye and Michael Van Blerk.

It is alleged that while the complainant was walking out of court following a postponement on the matter, Biti who had attended the same court representing George Katsimberis who had defrauded the complainant's employer charged towards the complainant pointing his right forefinger to her face allegedly shouted unprintable words on his top of voice.

The State alleges the complainant never said anything in response to the accused person and as a result of shock the complainant was hospitalised at Borrowdale trauma centre.