The ManicaPost
Abel Zhakata Senior Court Reporter
ONE of the 15 suspects who allegedly caused mayhem in Mutare and surrounding areas during last week’s violent protests will know his fate today (Friday) when provincial magistrate Mrs Sekai Chiundura delivers her verdict after full trial.
The marathon trials of suspects of the chaotic demonstrations were the mainstay of court proceedings this week at the Mutare Magistrates’ Courts as officials and defence counsels worked an extra mile to clear the cases and deliver justice quickly.
Some of the cases were heard and administered by Mrs Chiundura while some were handled by Mr Tendai Mahwe.
Trymore Nyamaropa (31) of Number 6 Moody Road Palmerstone, who was being represented by Mr Blessing Nyamaropa of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), will hear his judgement today.
Trymore was facing allegations of contravening Section 38 (c) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23 which criminalises the obstruction or endangering free movement of people or traffic.
The State led by district public prosecutor Mr Tirivanhu Mutyasira, said on January 15 police officers were on deployment gathering evidence when they received information that the suspect was putting stones along Josiah Tongogara Road in Palmerstone.
The cops swiftly reacted to the information and arrested the accused person while he was still placing the barricades.
Liberty Sithole (30) who resides at Number 397 SD in Dangamvura is facing a similar charge after he allegedly barricaded a road in the high density suburb.
The court heard that on the same day at around 6am, an informant saw some black smoke near the Islamic Mosque along Musikavanhu Drive and went there to investigate what was happening.
The informant saw the accused person, in the company of other suspects, burning some tyres and barricading the road by placing a shell of a broken down vehicle in the middle of the road.
Mr Tirivanhu said the suspect also went to Boka Shopping Centre where he also barricaded roads using stones and burning plastics.
The court further heard that the informant who was following the suspect from a distance also saw him putting some stones at T-junction near Dangamvura High School. He also barricaded the road.
Lovemore Marima (24) and Nyasha Mungwashu (32) both from Zimunya are also facing similar charges after they blocked roads at Saburi Business Centre using logs and scrap metal.
Seven other suspects who caused disturbances in Mutare Central Business District on the same day are also appearing before Mr Tendai Mahwe.
Some of the suspects were arrested while committing the crimes while some were later apprehended while running away from law enforcement agents.
More than 80 people were arrested in Manicaland for partaking in the violent demonstrations and trials are being conducted at various district court houses in the province.
Some suspects arrested in Rusape and facing similar allegations are expected to appear at Rusape Magistrates’ Court today.
