News / National
CCC activists' trial in false start
27 Oct 2023 at 06:17hrs | Views
The trial of Patrick Cheza, the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) candidate for Chirumanzu South, and four CCC activists facing charges of assaulting Zanu-PF MP and Tourism Minister Barbara Rwodzi, did not proceed yesterday as the State had not yet served the defense counsel with the necessary documents.
Prosecutor Taurai Mavuto informed the court that he would provide the accused persons' lawyers with State papers on November 7 and notify the witnesses in preparation for the trial.
The Gweru provincial magistrate, Nixon Mangoti, rescheduled the trial for November 28.
In response, the defense lawyers, Esau Mandipa and Leopold Mudisi, conveyed that if the trial did not commence on the set date, they would file an application to request a refusal of further remand.
Patrick Cheza (50) is accused of inciting public violence along with Elias Maduveko (26), Magmaster Chidyawuye (21), Delight Zinyemba (22), and Courage Mugova (20).
The charges stem from an incident in which Cheza allegedly incited CCC members to assault Minister Rwodzi after his vehicle was involved in a collision with a car belonging to the Tourism Minister.
The five individuals were recently granted bail by Masvingo High Court judge Justice Garainesu Mawadze, with each required to pay ZWL$500,000.
The allegations state that on August 24 of this year, Cheza was driving along the Charandura-Chaka Road when he arrived at the accident scene. Upon arrival, Cheza reportedly shouted at the minister, questioning her actions regarding CCC supporters, despite her victory in the harmonized elections. Cheza is also accused of instructing the four activists to attack Minister Rwodzi.
Prosecutor Taurai Mavuto informed the court that he would provide the accused persons' lawyers with State papers on November 7 and notify the witnesses in preparation for the trial.
The Gweru provincial magistrate, Nixon Mangoti, rescheduled the trial for November 28.
In response, the defense lawyers, Esau Mandipa and Leopold Mudisi, conveyed that if the trial did not commence on the set date, they would file an application to request a refusal of further remand.
The charges stem from an incident in which Cheza allegedly incited CCC members to assault Minister Rwodzi after his vehicle was involved in a collision with a car belonging to the Tourism Minister.
The five individuals were recently granted bail by Masvingo High Court judge Justice Garainesu Mawadze, with each required to pay ZWL$500,000.
The allegations state that on August 24 of this year, Cheza was driving along the Charandura-Chaka Road when he arrived at the accident scene. Upon arrival, Cheza reportedly shouted at the minister, questioning her actions regarding CCC supporters, despite her victory in the harmonized elections. Cheza is also accused of instructing the four activists to attack Minister Rwodzi.
Source - newsday
