Online Reporter
Paul Pindani in CHINHOYI
CHINHOYI Councillor, Godfrey Muzhandamhuri, who was accused of bashing a fellow Councillor during a heated Council meeting, has been found NOT GUILTY.
He was acquitted by a Chinhoyi magistrate.
Cllr Muzhandamhuri was dragged to court by Cllr David Malunga, 51, of Ward 8.
Magistrate, Kudzanai Mahaso, acquitted Cllr Muzhandamhuri after a full trial.
He dismissed the charge saying the State failed to prove its case beyond any reasonable doubt.
Magistrate Mahaso said the case also lacked merit as witnesses gave conflicting evidence.
Another factor that contributed to Cllr Muzhandamhuri’s acquittal was that the case was not backed by medical evidence.
Cllr Muzhandamhuri, 37, of Ward 10, was being charged with one count of assault.
It was the State’s case that on September 16, at around 5:30 pm, the Chinhoyi Municipality held a Council meeting at the Chinhoyi Civic Centre.
Cllr Muzhandamhuri and Cllr Malunga attended the meeting.
The court heard that during the meeting, Cllr Malunga raised a point about reimbursement of allowances to the Council by Councillors who had attended a Council business meeting in Victoria Falls.
This did not go well with Cllr Muzhandamhuri.
There was a heated debate between the two and Cllr Muzhandamhuri charged towards where Cllr Malunga was seated.
The State claimed he assaulted Cllr Malunga and allegedly slapped him twice.
Cllr Muzhandamhuri was then restrained, according to the State, from further assaulting Cllr Malunga by fellow Councillors — Cllr Ignatius Zvigadza and Cllr Voster Mashevedzanwa.
