The Masvingo High Court has overturned the convictions of five opposition activists from Gutu West, Ward 6 who had been convicted and sentenced by the Gutu Magistrate’s Court on charges of public violence.
The five CCC supporters are Privilege Goremusandu, Tapiwa Chiro, Patrick Chimbare, Brian Sithole, and Takudzwa Mashiri.
According to <a href="https://x.com/ChangeRadioZW/status/1813593112343716155">Change Radio</a>, their lawyer, Martin Mureri, who is also the Member of Parliament for Masvingo Urban, successfully appealed the convictions and sentences before Justices Garainesu Mawadze and Sunsley Zisengwe.
The two Justices declared that the convictions and sentences of the five CCC supporters were erroneous and subsequently ordered their release.
The five were initially convicted on February 27, 2024, following their arrest in the aftermath of clashes between ZANU PF members and supporters of former CCC leader Nelson Chamisa at an opposition campaign rally at Chiriga Business Centre in Gutu West.
ZANU PF members allegedly disrupted the police-approved rally, and law enforcement blocked all routes leading to the rally venue, preventing Chamisa from addressing the citizens.
Mureri who took over the case after the initial lawyer Mutema from the NGO Forum failed to appear in court on the judgment day.
The five were initially charged with public violence under Section 36(1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 09:23.
The CCC supporters were each sentenced to 12-month prison terms, with 3 months of the sentence suspended for 5 years.
Before their release on bail following an appeal by Mureri, the individuals spent three weeks incarcerated in Gutu, Mutimurefu, and Remand prisons.
The CCC supporters were allegedly physically assaulted and injured by ZANU PF members led by Robson Gahadzika.
However, the police have yet to arrest Gahadzika or any other ZANU PF members believed to be involved in the attack
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The High Court in Masvingo overturned convictions of five opposition activists from Gutu West who were charged with public violence. The activists are supporters of the opposition party CCC. The convictions were declared erroneous and the activists were released. They were arrested after clashes between ZANU PF and CCC supporters at a rally. The activists spent three weeks in prison before being released on bail. The lawyer representing them successfully appealed their convictions. ZANU PF members allegedly disrupted the rally and assaulted the activists. The police have not yet arrested those involved in the attack.

High Court Overturns Convictions Of Pro-Chamisa Supporters From Gutu West

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.
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Businessman Isau Mupfumi Granted US$1 000 Bail

The Chitungwiza Magistrate Court has acquitted five opposition supporters, including a local councillor, who were facing public violence charges.
The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) said Councillor Beven Murada, as well as Saul Chidanguro, Wilbert Chimbwedza, Solomon Savanhu and Blessed Kudakwashe Mutseka, were arrested on 26 July 2023 in Unit L suburb in Chitungwiza during the run-up to the 2023 harmonised elections.
The five were charged with public violence as defined in section 36(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
During trial, prosecutors alleged that the five residents, who were represented by ZLHR’s Tapiwa Muchineripi, had connived as a mob and disrupted and assaulted some ruling ZANU PF political party supporters, who were reportedly attending a meeting at some borehole in Unit L suburb.
But on Thursday, Magistrate Matova set Murada, Chidanguro, Chimbwedza, Savanhu and Mutseka free, by discharging and acquitting them at the close of the prosecution case.
Matova ruled that prosecutors had failed to prove a prima facie case against the 5 residents as there were no essential elements proven for the offence they were charged with.
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Five Chitungwiza Residents Acquitted On Public Violence Charges

Thirteen ZANU PF supporters, arrested in connection with the death of CCC activist Tinashe Chitsunge in August 2023, were released from pre-trial detention on Tuesday, March 26.
These individuals were arrested before the August 2023 election on charges of public violence, which led to the unfortunate death of Chitsunge in Glen View, Harare.
<a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200024867/ccc-activist-murder-zanu-pf-supporters-removed-from-remand">NewsDay</a> reported that the suspects are Cleopas Ndlovu (27), Ruzivo Mapuranga (39), Pauline Chikomo (37), Brian Mutanga (38), Berrington Mutanga (36), Emma Murana (40), Tawanda Muchatisi (29), Tapiwa Kaseke (32), Nyakabau Munashe (18), Tinashe Mabheki (35) Fadzai Madzinga (47), Forget Kanyuru (29) and Phenius Kamwendo (28).
Harare magistrate Simon Kandiyero presided over the case.
The accused, represented by lawyer Steven Chikotora, contended that the State had not presented any witnesses since the case began
The defence asserted that the State could summon the accused individuals when ready for trial.
Magistrate Kandiyero granted release to the 13 individuals on March 22, following a successful argument by their lawyer against continued remand.
The case may resume if prosecutors choose to summon them for trial.
Allegations were that on August 3, 2023, the accused were playing soccer at Chimunhu Grounds in Glen View high-density suburb fully aware that CCC had booked the same venue for a rally.
The court heard that when police tried to disperse the accused persons, they threw stones at the law enforcement officers.
The situation got intense after CCC members arrived for the rally before the two groups started pelting each other with stones.
Chitsunge died in the commotion after allegedly being hit with stones.
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