adminChitungwiza magistrate Mr Kudakwashe Jarabini ruled that the State had failed to prove a prima-facie case against them.
In his ruling, Mr Jarabini noted that the State witnesses’ evidence lacked coherence.
Mr Jarabini said the first witness, Zanu-PF chairperson Brezhnev Mushawatu’s evidence was based on heresy while the other two witnesses’ evidence was contradicting and this led Mr Jarabini to acquit them.
The five were said to have been accusing their counterparts the Zanu-PF youths of forcing residents to register as voters and participate in the revolutionary party’s structures.
Fanuel (31) and his brother Tendai (26) Kamurendo, Shelton Masamba (26), Wilbert Ndiweni (33) and Elizabeth Dube (26) all of Unit O denied malicious damage to property charges when their trial started.
In their defence, they had vehemently denied ever visiting the Zanu-PF offices in Unit O on the basis that they were all arrested while reporting progress on the “Yes Vote” campaign to their chairperson Fanuel Kamurendo.
Zanu-PF was being represented by Mushawatu. However, the five are expected back in court on April 11 facing fresh charges of public fighting.
Mr Lovet Muringwa prosecuted.
Online Reporter