MARTIN MAWAYA
GWERU-Chirumanzu South, Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) aspiring candidate Patrick Cheza and his four accomplices accused of malicious damage to property worth US$4, two counts of assault, and robbery have been granted bail.
Gweru Provincial Magistrate, Miriam Banda ordered the five to deposit ZWL$50 000 each and to report to Charandura Police station in Chirumanzu once a fortnight.
Patrick Cheza (50), Tinashe Moyo (47), Elias Madhuviko (26), Tanyaradzwa Marimbe (23), and Alex Gamuchirai (37) pleaded not guilty when they appeared before Banda who remanded them to 7 July 2023 for trial at Mvuma Magistrate Court.
The five were represented by prominent human rights defender, Advocate Martin Mureri under the auspices of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.
Prosecutor Helen Khosa told the court that on May 31, 2023, the five assaulted Zanu PF, Forever Associates Zimbabwe (FAZ) member Justice Dzaguma at Rupepwe Primary School in Chirumanzu.
The court heard that the accused persons also assaulted another FAZ member Nhamo Muzembi at Shashe Primary School before robbing him of US$50.
“At Mazvimba primary school, the five damaged an Itel phone pouch worth $3.00 belonging to Philemon Madzivanyika.
“At the same school, they tore up a counter book worth US$1 belonging to another FAZ member, Julius Kunodziya,” said prosecutor Khosa.
