Court acquits man in alleged Geza-led anti-Mnangagwa protest case

A Harare man has been acquitted of incitement to commit public violence after the court found that prosecutors failed to prove he encouraged others to join an anti-government protest.

Sixty-year-old Fidelis Garafa was arrested in November 2025 and accused of persuading three workmates to participate in a planned demonstration aimed at President Emmerson Mnangagwa's government. The State alleged that he discussed the protest at work, encouraged attendance, and later joined the March 2025 demonstration in central Harare where he was arrested alongside dozens of others.

During trial at Mbare Magistrates Court, prosecutors claimed Garafa had urged colleagues to join the protest and made statements suggesting support for removing the President. He was charged with incitement to commit public violence under the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

However, the court found no evidence that he induced or coerced anyone to take part. Magistrate Tinashe Ndokera ruled that State witnesses did not testify to being persuaded by Garafa, but only confirmed that he had expressed his own intention to attend the protest.

As a result, he was discharged at the close of the State case, with the court concluding that the prosecution had failed to establish the essential elements of incitement.