THE application for referral to the Constitutional Court of Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) candidate for Chirumanzu South constituency in the August 2023 harmonised elections, Patrick Cheza, and four other party activists’ case was yesterday postponed to next month after their lawyers indicated that they had High Court commitments next week.
The Gweru High Court Circuit opens next Monday and the activists’ lawyers Esau Mandipa and Leopold Mudisi submitted that they have five and seven cases, respectively at the High Court.
Gweru magistrate Beaulity Dube deferred the matter to October 11 after the State had conceded to the postponement.
The activists are facing charges of assaulting Zanu PF candidate and Tourism and Hospitality Industry minister Barbara Rwodzi in August last year.
Last month, the opposition activists filed an application seeking to bar Dube from presiding over the matter alleging bias.
Dube, however, dismissed their application saying it lacked merit.
Cheza (50) is being charged with inciting public violence alongside CCC activists Elias Maduveko (26), Magmaster Chidyawuye (21), Delight Zinyemba (22) and Courage Mugova (20).
It is alleged that on August 24 last year Cheza incited CCC members to beat up Rwodzi after his vehicle was involved in an accident with a car belonging to the Tourism minister.
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The accused have, however, denied the charges citing alleged political persecution.
During trial, Rwodzi admitted that Cheza did not assault, adding that she did not see any of the other four accused persons beating her.
Taurai Mavuto and Monica Mungwena prosecuted.
