The Masvingo High Court ruled on November 26, 2023, in favor of Patrick Cheza, the unsuccessful Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) candidate in the Chirumhanzu parliamentary race, and four other CCC members.
The five were arrested in September 2023 following accusations of assaulting the ZANU PF candidate, Barbra Rwodzi, who eventually won the seat. Cheza faced charges of inciting public violence, while Elias Maduveko, Magmaster Chidyawuye, Delight Zinyemba, and Courage Mugova were charged with public violence.
Justice Sensley Zisengwe dismissed the case due to the failure of the Prosecutor General and Gweru Magistrate Beaulity Dube to file essential documents. The charges stemmed from an incident on August 24, 2023, where a minor traffic accident occurred between Cheza’s driver and Barbra Rwodzi’s son, George Chengeta Rwodzi. Cheza allegedly incited his supporters to assault Rwodzi after the incident.
Prosecutors claimed that during the altercation, Chidyawuye deliberately tripped the government minister and tried to stab her. The charges included multiple kicks to Rwodzi while she was on the ground. Cheza was represented by human rights lawyers Esau Mandipa and Leopold Mudisi, and attended the court proceedings with his wife.
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