THE State yesterday withdrew charges against Bulawayo Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) activists including two legislators for defacing a rival’s campaign posters, due to lack of evidence.
Recalled Tshabalala-Pelandaba legislator Gift Siziba (30) was being charged alongside his Bulawayo Central counterpart Surrender Kapoikulu (51), party members Earnest Rafomoyo (55), Tendai Masocha (48), Simbarashe Dube (39) and Lovewell Mwinde (whose age was not given in court papers).
They appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Shephard Mjanja on Tuesday.
Mjanja said the matter would proceed by way of summons if the State decides to pursue it.
The complainant in the case was Soneni Moyo, a CCC losing double candidate in the August 23 elections.
Their lawyer Tinashe Runganga said his clients were facing trumped-up charges.
“We have been challenging this from the onset because we know there was no evidence,” Runganga said.
“It’s now up to the accused persons to go after the complainant to sue for damages of malicious prosecution and malicious arrest.”
- Revisiting Majaivana’s last show… ‘We made huge losses’
- Edutainment mix: The nexus of music and cultural identity
- ChiTown acting mayor blocks election
- Promoter Mdu 3D defends foreigners 30 minute set
Keep Reading
It is the State case that on August 16 at 12 noon, the CCC activists went to Pelandaba shops and removed Moyo’s campaign posters which were plastered on walls and Zesa poles.
The court heard that Moyo reported the matter to the police at Western Commonage.
In an interview yesterday, Siziba said the case had emboldened them.
“It confirms our already stated position that what we have in this country is the abuse of the justice delivery system by people who differ with us politically with the intention to try to dismember and disorganise our members from organising and executing their responsibility for the people,” Siziba said.
“We are fortified and we remain committed because we understand that all of these are trials and tribulations of believing in change, democracy.”
Siziba threatened to sue the complaint for damages.
