MDC-T activist arrested for $300 theft

An activist in Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC has been hauled before the courts for stealing cash and a cellphone valued at $300 from the party's Harare organising secretary Tichaona Munyanyi.

Stewart Shakespear Mukoyi, 38, appeared before Harare magistrate Tendai Mahwe facing assault and theft charges.

Douglas Mwonzora stood in for Mukoyi's legal practitioner, who was said to be committed elsewhere.

Mahwe granted Mukoyi $200 bail and ordered him to report once every week at CID Law and Order and not to interfere with State witnesses.

The matter was remanded to May 22. Prosecutor Sharon Mashavira alleged that on April 10 this year, Munyanyi went to the MDC headquarters Harvest House in central Harare intending to attend an MDC national council meeting.

Munyanyi was denied entry by a security officer Lovejoy Chitegu Dunga but managed to force his way into the meeting room.

Munyanyi was called by Mukoyi, who was in the company of Francis Machimbidzofa, Rhino Mashaya, Denford Ngadziore and other youths who are still at large.

They reportedly started assaulting him with fists and clapped him.

Mukoyi allegedly stole Munyanyi's Nokia X2 cellphone valued at $100; and $200 cash.