Bail for man accused of assaulting MP in hotel car park

A Harare man appeared in court Friday charged with assault and malicious damage to property after allegedly attacking Masvingo South MP Tanatsiwa Mukomberi, accusing him of having an affair with his wife.

Wilson Mutambwani, 38, from Braeside, was granted $200 bail by Harare magistrate Ruth Moyo.

The incident reportedly took place on May 20 at Cresta Lodge in Harare.

Prosecutor Tafadzwa Jambawu told the court that Mutambwani had arrived at the hotel around 7 PM for a meeting with a client. After finishing the meeting at approximately 8:30 PM, he went to the car park intending to leave, where he noticed a white Nissan Xtrail belonging to his wife, Rejoice Govera.

Mutambwani inquired with a security guard about the car's owner and was told a woman had left the vehicle and boarded a Ford Ranger Raptor double cab.

Suspecting his wife of infidelity, Mutambwani deflated the tires of the Nissan Xtrail and waited in the car park for her return.

At about 4:40 PM the following day, MP Mukomberi arrived driving a Ford Ranger Raptor and parked near the Nissan Xtrail. Govera alighted from the vehicle.

Mutambwani allegedly approached aggressively before the car doors opened, knocking on the driver's side window, then producing a Blow F92 toy pistol and pointing it at Mukomberi, ordering him to exit the vehicle.

Mukomberi complied but was then pulled out of the car and assaulted with open hands and boots by Mutambwani, who accused him of having an affair with his wife.

During the altercation, Mutambwani is said to have struck the windscreen of Mukomberi's vehicle twice with a stone.

After the incident, Mutambwani got into his vehicle with his wife and left the scene.

Mukomberi sustained minor injuries and was referred to hospital for medical treatment.

Mutambwani will return to court on a later date for further hearing.