A member of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) has been convicted of assaulting a local businessman.
The leader of the National Alliance of Patriotic and Democratic Zimbabweans (NAPDR), Devine Mhambi-Hove (44), was fined $40 000 by a magistrate.
In addition, eight months of the sentence were suspended for the next five years on condition of good behaviour.
Hove (44) who is also chairperson of POLAD monitoring, implementation and evaluation committee, denied the assault charge but was convicted by Bulawayo magistrate Musaiwona Shotgame after a full trial.
The assault charge against Hove arose following a misunderstanding that he had with Trust Muteedzi, an entrepreneur.
Muteedzi owns Basement Bar located at Duly’s Building which is situated at the corner of 11th Avenue and Jason Moyo Street where he was also running a car wash business.
Prosecutors said on the day in question and at around 12 PM Muteedzi was sitting inside his bar and behind the counter when Hove entered.
Without provocation and for no apparent reason, Hove allegedly started assaulting Muteedzi with fists several times on his face.
The court further heard that Hove left the bar and later returned armed with a plank which he used to strike Muteedzi several times on his hand, neck and head.
The complainant sustained injuries as a result of the attack and was referred to the hospital for treatment.
The matter was reported to the police leading to Hove’s arrest. | B-Metro