Bongani Ndlovu
Peter Matika
Charges against Zanu-PF Greens district chairperson Tendai Charuka have been withdrawn at the Bulawayo Magistrates’ Court after the complainant, a popular mushikashika driver and tout, Sawu Jere, filed an affidavit stating that he no longer wished to pursue the matter.
Charuka (42) had been facing a charge of assault as defined in Section 89(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23], following allegations that he had incited and participated in violence against Jere along 8th Avenue between Fort Street and Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street in Bulawayo.
According to court documents, the incident was alleged to have occurred on January 16, 2026, at approximately 1:00 PM.
It was alleged that Charuka, acting in common purpose with two other men, namely Ngobizitha Munyanyi and Raymond Murunga, approached Jere and accused him of having previously assaulted a woman.
It was stated that the trio then grabbed Jere by the collar, pushed him to the ground and continued assaulting him for about five minutes, despite pleas for them to stop.
It was further alleged that Jere later reported the matter to the police, leading to the arrest of the accused, and that he was referred to the hospital, where a medical affidavit was produced as an exhibit.
Charuka denied the allegations, and the matter had been pending before the court.
However, the case took a dramatic turn when Jere filed an affidavit indicating that he no longer wished to proceed with the prosecution.
The State did not oppose the withdrawal following the filing of the affidavit, and the court formally struck the matter off the roll.
derick.khumalo
Online Reporter