MDC-T phone insults row spills in court

MDC-T councillor for Ward 13, Lot Siziba, has dragged a fellow party member from Pelandaba suburb to court for allegedly sending him abusive text messages that also celebrated Matson Hlalo's expulsion from the opposition party.

Godwell Ngwenya, 43, appeared before Provincial Magistrate, Abednico Ndebele, facing a charge of sending abusive or threatening text messages over a phone.

Ngwenya was not asked to plead and the magistrate said the matter would proceed by way of summons.

This was after Mufaro Mageza, for the state, requested time to consult the Prosecutor General's Office after the magistrate had expressed reservations on the charge.

"This is a political matter and in politics people can say anything. I don't see any criminal element in the alleged messages. However if the prosecutor general says there is something criminal in the words which were uttered by the accused, the matter will be referred back to this court and to another magistrate," said Ndebele.

"The matter is not dead. This case will proceed by way summons. I will not place you on remand until we get a response from the prosecutor general's office."

Mageza told the court that on February 13 at around 12.33PM, Clr Siziba received some abusive and threatening messages on his mobile from Ngwenya through his NetOne line.

He said the messages read: "Matson Hlalo, bye bye, go back to Zanu. Second person to go it's you corruption man, Lot Siziba. Lot you are corrupt in this whole of Zimbabwe. This time we will not elect a corrupt person like you. As long as we live we are no longer going to give you a chance to do whatever you like, even Matson Hlalo, and tomorrow it is you Lot Siziba. I am a more superior Inyanga (traditional healer). I ate what was eaten by Chokuda who stayed in Gokwe Hospital mortuary for two years. Let us celebrate the going of Matson Hlalo and tomorrow it's you Lot Siziba. Enjoy reading you fake Inyanga."