News / Local
Biti alleges politicisation of his assault case
23 Nov 2023 at 00:35hrs | Views
FORMER Finance minister Tendai Biti has accused Zanu-PF of having a hand in the verbal assault charges he is facing.
Biti made the claims while submitting his defence in a case he is accused of verbally assaulting local businesswoman Tatiana Aleshina at the Harare Magistrates Court in 2020, a charge he denies.
He also accused the media, Zanu-PF finance secretary Patrick Chinamasa, Information secretary Ndavaningi Mangwana, and Deputy Prosecutor-General Michael Reza of conniving to have him nailed over the assault charge.
Yesterday, he also complained about a showroom that was built by property developer George Katsimberis which was demolished after he built it with an alleged fraudulently acquired plan.
The opposition politician told the court that Aleshina was a very powerful woman, adding he was not likely to get a fair trial with Reza prosecuting the matter.
Biti questioned the directorship of West Properties where Aleshina works and the authenticity of the joint venture agreements they signed with other partners.
But the State accused him of raising issues that had nothing with the assault charge he is facing.
Reza last week accused Biti of buying time by filing several applications, thereby delaying finalisation of the matter. Magistrate Vongai Guwuriro then postponed the trial to Wednesday saying the matter must be placed on the continuous roll until Thursday.
Biti made the claims while submitting his defence in a case he is accused of verbally assaulting local businesswoman Tatiana Aleshina at the Harare Magistrates Court in 2020, a charge he denies.
He also accused the media, Zanu-PF finance secretary Patrick Chinamasa, Information secretary Ndavaningi Mangwana, and Deputy Prosecutor-General Michael Reza of conniving to have him nailed over the assault charge.
Yesterday, he also complained about a showroom that was built by property developer George Katsimberis which was demolished after he built it with an alleged fraudulently acquired plan.
Biti questioned the directorship of West Properties where Aleshina works and the authenticity of the joint venture agreements they signed with other partners.
But the State accused him of raising issues that had nothing with the assault charge he is facing.
Reza last week accused Biti of buying time by filing several applications, thereby delaying finalisation of the matter. Magistrate Vongai Guwuriro then postponed the trial to Wednesday saying the matter must be placed on the continuous roll until Thursday.
Source - newsday
