A GWERU magistrate has postponed ruling in a case in which a Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) aspiring candidate for Chirumanzi South is seeking discharge on a charge of assaulting Tourism minister Barbara Rwodzi.
Patrick Cheza, who contested for the Chirumanzi South seat in the August 2023 elections, is being charged alongside four other party activists.
Magistrate Beaulity Dube on Wednesday, however, postponed the sentence to July 25 saying she had not yet finished writing her ruling.
The accused’s lawyers Esau Mandipa and Leopold Mudisi made an application for discharge at the close of the State case, arguing that the prosecution had failed to prove a case against their clients.
Cheza (50) is being charged with inciting public violence alongside Elias Maduveko (26), Magmaster Chidyawuye (21), Delight Zinyemba (22) and Courage Mugova (20).
It is alleged that 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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During trial, Rwodzi admitted that Cheza did not assault her and neither did she see any of the accused persons.
Allegations are that on August 24 last year, Cheza’s driver was driving along Charandura-Chaka gravel road when he got involved in an accident with a car driven by the minister’s son, Chengetai Rwodzi.
Further allegations are that when Cheza arrived at the accident scene, he allegedly shouted at the minister demanding to know why she wanted to kill CCC supporters.
Cheza allegedly instructed the four activists to attack Rwodzi.