Transform Zimbabwe party leader Jacob Ngarivhume, who was convicted of incitement to cause public violence, has been acquitted by the High Court after spending a year at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison.
Ngarivhume, who was represented by constitutional lawyer Lovemore Madhuku, had his appeal against both conviction and sentence upheld by High Court judges of appeal Pisirayi Kwenda and Fatima Maxwell.
The judges only read out the operative part, saying full judgment would be released during the week, but indicated that the verdict was reached on noting that the State failed to prove a prima facie case against the opposition politician.
Ngarivhume was convicted on April 28 following the State’s claims that, sometime in July, 2020, he led the July 31 Movement, posted on his X handle inciting the public to protest against fuel price increases and general economic hardships in the country.
- More to follow
