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Attempted murder accused CCC MP, councillor set free
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Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) Member of Parliament Maureen Kademaunga and Harare ward 10 councillor Clayd Mashozhera have been acquitted of attempted murder charges after being on remand since 2023.
The acquittal, handed down by Harare magistrate Estere Chivasa on Friday, also extended to their co-accused, residents Noel Munhuweyi and Daudi Kharim Jessub. The four were facing three counts of attempted murder and malicious damage to property under Zimbabwe's Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
The charges stemmed from an incident during the August 23–24, 2023 elections. The complainants, identified as Zanu-PF members Cyril Nyauchi, Artwell Marwa, and Spencer Mudarikwa, alleged they were attacked by CCC members while distributing food to ruling party election agents at polling stations in Sunningdale.
According to the prosecution, the complainants were travelling in a Toyota Spacio when they were allegedly blocked by a CCC convoy near the Metro Peech entrance at the intersection of Seke and Boshoff roads. The convoy reportedly included a Toyota Noah, Toyota Mark X, commuter omnibus, Honda Fit, and two other vehicles.
While some CCC members allegedly disembarked and attacked the complainants' vehicle with truncheons, iron bars, small axes, and sjamboks, Kademaunga, Mashozhera, and Munhuweyi reportedly remained in their vehicles. Nyauchi was said to have sustained severe injuries in the attack, and the complainants claimed damages amounting to US$15,600, including stolen or destroyed items such as tyres, mobile phones, and a jerry can.
At the close of the prosecution case, Kademaunga and her co-accused were acquitted after their lawyers, Tapiwa Muchineripi and Harrison Nkomo of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, successfully argued for discharge. They contended that there was no evidence directly linking the accused to the alleged offences.
Magistrate Chivasa agreed, ruling that the state had failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt, resulting in the dismissal of all charges.
The verdict marks a legal victory for Kademaunga, the Sunningdale MP, and the CCC, which has repeatedly accused the state of targeting its members through politically motivated charges. This case highlights ongoing tensions between the opposition CCC and the ruling Zanu-PF, particularly during election periods.
Kademaunga and her co-accused expressed relief at the ruling but have not commented publicly on the potential next steps in addressing the accusations.
The acquittal, handed down by Harare magistrate Estere Chivasa on Friday, also extended to their co-accused, residents Noel Munhuweyi and Daudi Kharim Jessub. The four were facing three counts of attempted murder and malicious damage to property under Zimbabwe's Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
The charges stemmed from an incident during the August 23–24, 2023 elections. The complainants, identified as Zanu-PF members Cyril Nyauchi, Artwell Marwa, and Spencer Mudarikwa, alleged they were attacked by CCC members while distributing food to ruling party election agents at polling stations in Sunningdale.
According to the prosecution, the complainants were travelling in a Toyota Spacio when they were allegedly blocked by a CCC convoy near the Metro Peech entrance at the intersection of Seke and Boshoff roads. The convoy reportedly included a Toyota Noah, Toyota Mark X, commuter omnibus, Honda Fit, and two other vehicles.
While some CCC members allegedly disembarked and attacked the complainants' vehicle with truncheons, iron bars, small axes, and sjamboks, Kademaunga, Mashozhera, and Munhuweyi reportedly remained in their vehicles. Nyauchi was said to have sustained severe injuries in the attack, and the complainants claimed damages amounting to US$15,600, including stolen or destroyed items such as tyres, mobile phones, and a jerry can.
At the close of the prosecution case, Kademaunga and her co-accused were acquitted after their lawyers, Tapiwa Muchineripi and Harrison Nkomo of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, successfully argued for discharge. They contended that there was no evidence directly linking the accused to the alleged offences.
Magistrate Chivasa agreed, ruling that the state had failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt, resulting in the dismissal of all charges.
The verdict marks a legal victory for Kademaunga, the Sunningdale MP, and the CCC, which has repeatedly accused the state of targeting its members through politically motivated charges. This case highlights ongoing tensions between the opposition CCC and the ruling Zanu-PF, particularly during election periods.
Kademaunga and her co-accused expressed relief at the ruling but have not commented publicly on the potential next steps in addressing the accusations.
Source - the herald
