News / National
CCC MPs, activists' trial deferred
16 Oct 2023 at 01:12hrs | Views
The trial of six Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) activists and two party legislators from Bulawayo, who are accused of criminal insult and defacing campaign posters, has been postponed. The trial has been rescheduled for November 1 and November 17 of this year.
The accused individuals include Tshabalala-Pelandaba legislator Gift Siziva (30), Bulawayo Central MP Surrender Kapoikulu (51), and party members Earnest Rafomoyo (55), Tendai Masocha (48), Simbarashe Dube (39), and Lovewell Mwinde.
The postponement of the trial to November 17 is due to the unavailability of the third witness, Shammela Nyoni, who is writing her Ordinary Level November Examination.
The charges against the accused stem from an incident on August 11 of this year when Siziva and his accomplices allegedly went to the residence of Soneni Moyo and insulted her. Moyo was a CCC candidate contesting against Siziva in the August 23 elections.
State witness Sibongile Ndlovu testified that she saw all the CCC accused activists insulting Moyo and calling her a thief. She also mentioned that there were over 100 people with their cars at the scene and that she took pictures of the incident.
During cross-examination, Ndlovu denied being friends with Moyo, even though her name appeared as a friend in the police statement. She attributed the discrepancy to the police officer recording conflicting statements because he was a Shona speaker and did not hear her Ndebele statements clearly.
Moyo testified that the insults had embarrassed her, especially because her children heard them being hurled at her.
The trial will continue in November, with allegations of criminal insult and defacing campaign posters at the center of the case.
The accused individuals include Tshabalala-Pelandaba legislator Gift Siziva (30), Bulawayo Central MP Surrender Kapoikulu (51), and party members Earnest Rafomoyo (55), Tendai Masocha (48), Simbarashe Dube (39), and Lovewell Mwinde.
The postponement of the trial to November 17 is due to the unavailability of the third witness, Shammela Nyoni, who is writing her Ordinary Level November Examination.
The charges against the accused stem from an incident on August 11 of this year when Siziva and his accomplices allegedly went to the residence of Soneni Moyo and insulted her. Moyo was a CCC candidate contesting against Siziva in the August 23 elections.
State witness Sibongile Ndlovu testified that she saw all the CCC accused activists insulting Moyo and calling her a thief. She also mentioned that there were over 100 people with their cars at the scene and that she took pictures of the incident.
During cross-examination, Ndlovu denied being friends with Moyo, even though her name appeared as a friend in the police statement. She attributed the discrepancy to the police officer recording conflicting statements because he was a Shona speaker and did not hear her Ndebele statements clearly.
Moyo testified that the insults had embarrassed her, especially because her children heard them being hurled at her.
The trial will continue in November, with allegations of criminal insult and defacing campaign posters at the center of the case.
Source - newsday
