AMALGAMATED Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) president Obert Masaraure and 15 teachers, who were arrested in January over an alleged unlawful gathering, were on Wednesday acquitted by a Harare magistrate.
Masaraure and the teachers, who were facing charges of participating in a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breaches of peace or bigotry, were being represented by Takunda Nyambira and Alec Muchadehama.
The 16 appeared before magistrate Ruth Moyo.
Muchadehama filed an application for discharge at the close of State case arguing that the prosecutors had failed to prove their case against the teachers.
Prosecutor claimed that on January 12, 2024, the informant and other police officers attached to the police reaction group (PRG) were on duty patrolling Harare’s central business district when they received information that there was a group of people unlawfully gathered at National Social Security Authority, complex which houses offices of the Public Service Commission.
The police officers allegedly observed that the accused persons had stones and weapons. They were also allegedly singing while holding placards.
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On seeing the police the accused persons allegedly fled in different directions, leading to their subsequent arrest.