MARTIN MAWAYA
GWERU – The case against former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) parliamentary candidate for Chirumhanzu South constituency, Patrick Cheza, and his three co-accused, has been postponed to July 25.
The presiding Magistrate Beaulity Dube said she has not yet finished writing the discharge ruling.
Cheza (50), Magmaster Chidyawuye (21), Delight Zinyemba (22), and Courage Mugova (20) applied for discharge at the close of the state case on June 28 through their lawyers, Esau Mandipa and Leopold Mudisi.
The accused’s defence counsel submitted their application on July 5, while the state responded on July 10.
The four are accused of public violence and assaulting Tourism Minister, Barbra Rwodzi when Cheza’s vehicle was involved in an accident along the Chaka-Charandura gravel road with the minister’s vehicle last year.
However, during cross-examination, Rwodzi and other state witnesses did not mention or confirm how Cheza and his co-accused assaulted her.
The case was marred by inconsistencies from the complainant and other four key state witnesses.
Meanwhile, the judgment in which Cheza is accused of tearing a dollar counter book belonging to shadowy Zanu PF offshoot Forever Associates Zimbabwe (FAZ) member was also rolled over to the same date, as the presiding magistrate was reportedly unwell.
Taurai Mavuto and Monica Mungwena prosecuted.
