News / Local
Zanu-PF members in court
13 Mar 2013 at 06:34hrs | Views
THREE Zanu-PF members from the Bulawayo Province yesterday appeared in court for allegedly engaging in violence, which resulted in the disruption of the party's Provincial Coordinating Committee meeting on Sunday.
The meeting was at the party's provincial headquarters, Davies Hall and was attended by the provincial leadership, members of the Central Committee and Politburo from the province.
Noah Gatsi (57), Ashley Shorai Mashungu (31) and Robert Ncube (58) were not formally charged with public violence as defined in Section 36(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23 when they appeared for initial remand before the magistrate-in-charge of Bulawayo and Matabeleland North provinces, Mr John Masimba.
Gatsi, of Number 50 Wattling Road, Northlyn and is the party's secretary for administration appeared on his own while Mashungu and Ncube (addresses not given) were represented by Mr Charles Paul Moyo, of Moyo and Nyoni Legal Practitioners.
Mr Moyo immediately applied for bail for his clients.
However, the State led by Mr Jeremiah Mutsindikwa opposed bail, saying political leaders in the country had castigated any form of violence and as such setting free the three would be in violation of the call for peace.
Mr Mutsindikwa said Gatsi, Mashungu and Ncube were not suitable candidates for bail considering that their alleged fight spilled outside Davies Hall thereby putting into danger the lives of innocent members of the public.
He said the country was approaching a volatile period in terms of political activities where cases of violence were likely to escalate and the nation was looking up to the courts to make sure citizens heed the call for peace.
In his submissions, Mr Moyo said the State's case was weak in that it put a blanket charge on all the three accused persons yet facts stated that Gatsi had started the fight.
He said his clients were suitable candidates for bail pending trial and what political leaders had said outside the courts was of no use to the case.
In his own submissions, Gatsi said he was a long time and trusted member of Zanu-PF and was not likely to be involved in any violent activities or cause its occurrence.
The trio was remanded in custody to today when Mr Masimba is expected to make a ruling after going through the submissions.
The State also invited the investigating officer in the matter, Detective Sergeant Patrice Nyanhete of the Law and Order Section who testified that Gatsi, Mashungu and Ncube were not suitable candidates for bail and releasing them was likely to reignite violence among party supporters.
He said violence had polarised members of the party and some supporters were likely to revenge.
Det Sgt Nyanhete said they also wanted to interview the party's provincial chairman, Cde Killian Sibanda, who attended yesterday's court proceedings.
The State would want to prove that on Sunday while at Davies Hall, Ncube, who is the party's provincial secretary for security started vetting party members and told those who were not eligible to attend the PCC to go out.
The court was told that the chairman of war collaborators, Cde Douglas Gangaidzwa refused to leave, arguing that there were some suspended party members who were still in the hall who were not eligible to attend the meeting.
Cde Gangaidzwa allegedly invited other party members who were outside to get into the hall and attend the meeting.
An argument ensued between Mashungu who is a member of the youth wing and Gatsi resulting in the latter slapping the former.
The court heard that Mashungu and Gatsi started a fist fight and when Mashungu was being overpowered, Ncube intervened resulting in him and Gatsi exchanging blows.
Gatsi allegedly picked a chair and hit Ncube and there was commotion as other members intervened while others joined in the fight.
Police intervened to quell the violence and the trio was later arrested after investigations, together with four others, Joyce Noni Ndlovu (58), Boniface Mutsure (32), Maguramagura Charumbira (30) and Caalaghan Mutendereki (37).
However, the four were released yesterday before going to court.
The meeting was at the party's provincial headquarters, Davies Hall and was attended by the provincial leadership, members of the Central Committee and Politburo from the province.
Noah Gatsi (57), Ashley Shorai Mashungu (31) and Robert Ncube (58) were not formally charged with public violence as defined in Section 36(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23 when they appeared for initial remand before the magistrate-in-charge of Bulawayo and Matabeleland North provinces, Mr John Masimba.
Gatsi, of Number 50 Wattling Road, Northlyn and is the party's secretary for administration appeared on his own while Mashungu and Ncube (addresses not given) were represented by Mr Charles Paul Moyo, of Moyo and Nyoni Legal Practitioners.
Mr Moyo immediately applied for bail for his clients.
However, the State led by Mr Jeremiah Mutsindikwa opposed bail, saying political leaders in the country had castigated any form of violence and as such setting free the three would be in violation of the call for peace.
Mr Mutsindikwa said Gatsi, Mashungu and Ncube were not suitable candidates for bail considering that their alleged fight spilled outside Davies Hall thereby putting into danger the lives of innocent members of the public.
He said the country was approaching a volatile period in terms of political activities where cases of violence were likely to escalate and the nation was looking up to the courts to make sure citizens heed the call for peace.
In his submissions, Mr Moyo said the State's case was weak in that it put a blanket charge on all the three accused persons yet facts stated that Gatsi had started the fight.
He said his clients were suitable candidates for bail pending trial and what political leaders had said outside the courts was of no use to the case.
In his own submissions, Gatsi said he was a long time and trusted member of Zanu-PF and was not likely to be involved in any violent activities or cause its occurrence.
The State also invited the investigating officer in the matter, Detective Sergeant Patrice Nyanhete of the Law and Order Section who testified that Gatsi, Mashungu and Ncube were not suitable candidates for bail and releasing them was likely to reignite violence among party supporters.
He said violence had polarised members of the party and some supporters were likely to revenge.
Det Sgt Nyanhete said they also wanted to interview the party's provincial chairman, Cde Killian Sibanda, who attended yesterday's court proceedings.
The State would want to prove that on Sunday while at Davies Hall, Ncube, who is the party's provincial secretary for security started vetting party members and told those who were not eligible to attend the PCC to go out.
The court was told that the chairman of war collaborators, Cde Douglas Gangaidzwa refused to leave, arguing that there were some suspended party members who were still in the hall who were not eligible to attend the meeting.
Cde Gangaidzwa allegedly invited other party members who were outside to get into the hall and attend the meeting.
An argument ensued between Mashungu who is a member of the youth wing and Gatsi resulting in the latter slapping the former.
The court heard that Mashungu and Gatsi started a fist fight and when Mashungu was being overpowered, Ncube intervened resulting in him and Gatsi exchanging blows.
Gatsi allegedly picked a chair and hit Ncube and there was commotion as other members intervened while others joined in the fight.
Police intervened to quell the violence and the trio was later arrested after investigations, together with four others, Joyce Noni Ndlovu (58), Boniface Mutsure (32), Maguramagura Charumbira (30) and Caalaghan Mutendereki (37).
However, the four were released yesterday before going to court.
Source - TC
