FORMER Budiriro legislator Costa Machingauta, who appeared at the Harare Magistrates Court on Tuesday for allegedly inciting violence and disorderly conduct, will know his fate on Friday when he returns to court for his bail ruling.
Machingauta yesterday appeared before Harare magistrate Ethel Chichera, who remanded him in custody to August 23 this year.
Prosecutor Polite Chikiwa said between August 1 and 15 this year, Machingauta connived with Amos Chibaya and posted on Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) WhatsApp groups mobilising and inciting members to engage in violent activities.
Machingauta allegedly mobilised the CCC members to barricade roads as well as burn shops and tyres during the recently-concluded 44th Sadc Heads of State and Government Summit.
One of the posts, according to Chikiwa, read: “Let’s demonstrate wherever we are. If police did not allow you to barricade the roads and burn tyres and shops, let’s dig holes in their roads so that no one pass through.”
The State further alleges that as a result of the incitement, riotous activists on August 16 barricaded and burnt tyres at Mukonono Bridge along High Glen Road in Marimba, Harare.
On a different count, on August 15 this year, Machingauta allegedly assaulted detectives from the CID Law and Order department.
The court heard Machingauta allegedly became violent as well as belligerent and shouted offensive words at the law enforcement agents.
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