A HARARE man facing four charges of contempt of court, criminal trespass, inciting violence and assault of a policeman was relieved after Harare magistrate Denis Mangosi released him on US$150 bail.
Prosecutor Rufaro Chonzi alleged that Blessing Charakupa (34) disregarded the provisional order by the Sherriff of Zimbabwe not to demolish and construct new structures on two stands along Chaminuka Street in Mbare.
The applicant of the provisional order, Rosemary Togarepi, filed a case of contempt of court against Charakupa.
On the criminal trespass charge, Charakupa, according to Chonzi, allegedly went to the Harare City Council district land offices accompanied by 14 others who have since been arrested and appeared in court.
They allegedly constructed a precast wall on the council premises without council’s authority.
The district officer, Micheal Chikanga, reported the case of criminal trespass at ZRP Waterfalls.
Chonzi said on the same day, police in Waterfalls attended the scene and advised Charakupa to accompany them to the police station for questioning.
Charakupa disobeyed the police’s instructions and resisted arrest, while his accomplices acted violently, the prosecution said.
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The prosecutor said police was forced to fire warning shots to disperse the crowd as Charakupa and his accomplices allegedly charged towards them.
Police, according to Chonzi, arrested the 14 suspects for criminal trespassing and inciting public violence.
Chonzi said on September 5 this year, a ZRP Mbare District police intelligence crack team received information that Charakupa was at Vito Complex, Mbare, while on a warrant of arrest.
The police reportedly arrested Charakupa, but his bouncers allegedly intervened and threatened the police with assault.
Despite police firing warning shots, Charakupa and his accomplices were not deterred, but only capitulated and handed over Charakupa after a while, the prosecution alleged.
A case was reported leading to Charakupa’s arrest after he presented himself at ZRP Mbare in the company of his lawyer Jeremiah Bamu of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.
