The State on Thursday, 18 July, withdrew charges against Isau Mupfumi, a prominent businessman from Mutare and a member of ZANU PF’s Central Committee.
The withdrawal of charges came after the State acknowledged that there was no evidence linking Mupfumi to the violent clashes that occurred in Mutare’s central business district in May, reported <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/state-withdraws-charges-against-businessman-and-politician-isau-mupfumi-2/">The Herald</a>.
Mupfumi had been arrested in May, along with 49 rank marshals and touts, following violent confrontations between rival machete-wielding gangs at Sakubva Bus Terminus and the Old Harare Rank in the city.
He was subsequently released on US$1000 bail while the 49 rank marshals and touts remained in custody after being denied bail.
Mutare magistrate, Tendai Mahwe presided over the matter, while Sandra Mlambo prosecuted.
Mupfumi was represented by lawyer Victor Chinzamba of Mugadza, Chinzamba and Partners.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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The State dropped charges against businessman Isau Mupfumi because they found no proof he was involved in a violent fight in Mutare. Mupfumi was arrested in May, but now he is free with a lawyer to defend him. The rest of the people arrested with him are still in custody. Mupfumi is a member of ZANU PF and was part of the Central Committee. The charges were withdrawn by the State, and he was cleared of wrongdoing in court.

State Withdraws Charges Against Isau Mupfumi

ZANU PF Central Committee member Isau Mupfumi has a pending medical operation in Dubai on Saturday and this could be one of the reasons why Mutare Provincial Magistrate, Tendai Mahwe, granted him bail, reported <a href="https://www.hmetro.co.zw/mupfumis-medical-condition-helps-him-to-get-bail-in-case-involving-a-very-serious-crime/">H-Metro</a>.
Mupfumi was among scores of people who were arrested at the weekend after rank marshals engaged in an orgy of violence at the city’s bus ranks on Thursday.
He was granted US$1 000 bail on Monday 27 May, but 49 touts involved in the skirmishes were denied bail. Mupfumi will return to court on June 18.
Besides being instructed to deposit US$1 000 with the clerk of the court, Mupfumi was also ordered to continue residing at his current address, not to interfere with State witnesses or investigations, and report weekly to the ZRP CID Mutare starting on Saturday.
His lawyer, Victor Chinzamba of Mugadza, Chinzamba and Partners, applied for bail citing Mupfumi’s hypertension condition and scheduled medical operation in Dubai on Saturday.
Public Prosecutor, Tirivanhu Mutyasira, did not oppose bail on Mupfumi.
Allegations are that Mupfumi’s senior rank marshal, Farai Chitsa, was allegedly attacked by rank marshals from other bus companies, on Monday last week.
Mupfumi allegedly ordered his marshals to retaliate, and on Wednesday, a group of Mupfumi’s rank marshals allegedly drove to Harare Old Rank in Mutare in two commuter omnibuses.
They attacked marshals from other companies with machetes, sjamboks, sticks and knives. Said Mutyasira:
<blockquote>
One of the commuter omnibuses, a Toyota Hiace, Registration Number AFB2518, was being driven by Michael Chinogara.
The other commuter omnibus, a Toyota Quantum belonging to Mupfumi, was being driven by his worker only known as Ndemera.
The Mupfumi Buses rank marshals disembarked and attacked rank marshals belonging to other bus companies with machetes, sjamboks, sticks and knives at Harare Old Rank, Mutare.
</blockquote>
Police officers fired warning shots to disperse the crowd and seven marshals were arrested, while machetes and stones were recovered from the commuter omnibus.
The following day, Thursday, Mupfumi’s marshals clashed with marshals from other companies at Murahwa People’s Green Market in Sakubva, and when police officers arrived, they allegedly fled to Mupfumi’s garage. Said Mutyasira:
<blockquote>
On May 24, Mupfumi’s rank marshals proceeded to fight with rank marshals belonging to other bus companies at Murahwa People’s Green Market in Mutare.
When police arrived, the rank marshals fled from the crime scene and took refuge at Mupfumi’s garage.
Police, who were in pursuit, arrested 11 rank marshals at the garage.
</blockquote>
The 49 rank marshals were all denied bail after Mutyasira opposed bail, stating that the accused people were likely to interfere with witnesses.
The magistrate agreed, saying the offences were committed in broad light, and the suspects were all arrested while committing the offences.
He said the magnitude of the violence can threaten the witnesses involved in the matter and also releasing the suspects would cause a public outcry in the justice delivery system.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Isau Mupfumi's Medical Condition Helps Him Get Bail

ZANU PF bigwig and businessman Isau Mupfumi was on Monday, 27 May granted US$1 000 by the courts following his arrest on Saturday for his alleged part in violent clashes over bus loading bays in Mutare, which left several people injured.
Mupfumi appeared before Mutare Provincial Magistrate Tendai Mahwe facing a charge of incitement to commit public violence.
As reported by <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200027505/transport-mogul-mupfumi-granted-bail">NewsDay</a>, Mupfumi was granted bail, with conditions, by consent of both the State and the defence counsel. He will return to court in June.
Mupfumi was represented by Victor Chinzamba of Mugadza and Partners Legal Practitioners.
Mutare district public prosecutor Tirivanhu Mutyasira did not oppose the bail application by Chinzamba saying Mupfumi is a businessman of repute and was not at flight risk.
Violence broke out at the Old Harare Rank and Mudzviti Rank last week, leading to a fight between Mupfumi and Mukumba bus company touts.
The court heard that on Thursday last week, Mupfumi’s senior rank marshal at Sakubva Musika rank, Farai Chitsa (39), was attacked with machetes, sjamboks, golf clubs and knives by rank marshals belonging to Mukumba Brothers.
Mupfumi then allegedly instructed Chitsa and the other rank marshals to retaliate, after which they went to Old Harare Rank driving in two commuter omnibuses.
Mupfumi’s rank marshals allegedly attacked the rival group with machetes, sjamboks, golf clubs and knives.
More than 40 touts who were arrested were denied bail by Mahwe and will return to court on June 10.
National Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi on Sunday said they also want to interview Leonard Mukumba of Inter Africa Buses over the skirmishes.
NewsDay reported sources as saying Mukumba has been out of the country on business.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Businessman Isau Mupfumi Granted US$1 000 Bail

ZANU PF central committee member and prominent transport operator, Isau Mupfumi, was arrested over the weekend in connection with violent clashes involving rank marshals that rocked Mutare on Thursday last week.
On Sunday, Police confirmed they had arrested bus operators, touts, criminals and rank marshals in connection with the violence.
The rank marshals and touts were reportedly fighting for passengers, leaving at least two people seriously injured.
In a statement, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Ngwarai Nyathi confirmed the arrest of more than a dozen individuals implicated in the disturbances including Mupfumi. These are:
<blockquote>
Isau Mupfumi (62), Jelous Mukorera (36), Michael Chigaro (37), Tatenda Chamusingarevi (22), Cassidy Chabvuta (33), Clayton Muchineripi (24), Kudzanai Neshiri (24), Donemore Dube (44), Taurai Gumende (36), Constantine Makombe (21), Tawanda Matara (42), Liberty Simonyi (28), Rodrick Chiutsi (32), Wayne Mafuta (21), Blessing Chikukwa (30), Donald Matakure (23), Oracio Migayo (18), and Luckmore Shamhu (30).
</blockquote>
Asst. Comm. Nyathi said police recovered several vehicles and dangerous weapons such as knives, hoe handles, and iron bars that were used during the skirmishes. He said:
<blockquote>
Some of the suspects were hired and paid to engage in public violence using vehicles whilst carrying machetes and other weapons. In one of the incidents, Police had to fire warning shots to effect arrests as the gangs were fighting and striking one another with machetes, stones, iron bars and other weapons. Some members of the public were caught in the crossfire and sustained injuries.
The Police has recovered a white Toyota Hiace vehicle registration number ABF 2518, a white Toyota Belta vehicle registration number AFA 6517, a White Mazda 323 vehicle registration number ABM 8801, a silver Toyota Wish vehicle registration number AEP 6689, a white Honda Fit vehicle registration number AFM 1550, a white Toyota Aqua vehicle registration number AGG 0083, knives, hoe handles, iron bars, stones, two slushiers, a red and black sjambok and a 1,5 metres deformed bar.
Several complainants have made reports of assault to the Police. Initial Police investigations indicate that there is a fight over loading bays and ranks at Harare-Mutare Old Rank in the Mutare Central Business District and Mudzviti Rank pitting Mupfumi buses and Mukumba buses.
</blockquote>
Assist. Comm Nyathi strongly warned bus operators and criminal gangs against instaging violence at bus ranks, saying they will face the full wrath of the law. He said:
<blockquote>
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Republic Police reiterates that any bus operator and their criminal gangs who try to cause chaos or violence at commuter ranks or bus termini will face the full wrath of the law.
In this regard, bus operators are implored to lead by example and contribute towards the maintenance of law and order in the country.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZANU PF Central Committee Member Arrested Over Bus Terminus Violence

Mutare businessman Isau Mupfumi has started the refurbishment of Sakubva Stadium so that it can host Castle Lager Premier Soccer League matches.
Mupfumi engaged Mutare City Council management recently with the aim of helping out in the renovations of Sakubva Stadium.
Work on the pitch, which is the main area of concern, started last week.
Mupfumi acquired pine bark and fertilisers to refurbish the turf as well as deploying and paying people to carry out the job.
Speaking to <a href="https://www.manicapost.co.zw/sakubva-stadium-refurbishment-begins/">The Manica Post</a>, Mupfumi said he engaged professional groundsmen to assist Mutare City Council. He said:
<blockquote>
Surely with good turf at Mutare Sports Club, at the cricket ground, and also the Hillcrest sports fields as well as Africa University, Manicaland we could engage the professionals who man these facilities to assist Mutare City Council.
The measures that I am undertaking are short-term and meant to let the facility meet minimum acceptable standards that will allow the people of Mutare to watch the beloved game.
Mutare as a city cannot afford not having football matches at the venue; that is unacceptable to me.
I know and I understand that football is the best-supported sport in this country, hence as a community leader I felt I should play my part.
</blockquote>
Mupfumi urged the local corporate community, the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company in particular, to also assist in the renovation of Sakubva Stadium.
Sakubva Stadium was banned from hosting Castle Lager Premiership matches since the start of the season after failing to satisfy the required minimum standards.
The only Premiership team in Mutare, Manica Diamonds, has been playing their home matches far away from home at Gibbo Stadium in Triangle.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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