adminBeitbridge last year has been postponed to August 18. The State is only left with only two defence witnesses to testify. The five suspects including two councillors were left to stand trial after 48 others were acquitted of charges of public violence.
Warrants of arrests have also been issued out against 13 others for defaulting court. Initially, the 60 suspects had been jointly charged with public violence until the 48 suspects were acquitted for because of lack of incriminating evidence against them. Beitbridge magistrate Mrs Auxillia Chiumburu, is presiding over the matter. Ward 1 and 3 councillors, Danmore Dzokurasa and Morgan Ncube together with Enos Tshili, Siphiwe Ndou and Patrick are pleading not guilty to the charges. The five were left to stand trial after they were implicated by the majority of the group.
The duo of Moffat Ndou and Buhle Dube who are the party’s western and eastern chairmen were also jointly charged for convening the meeting, which led to the chaos without notifying the police were also cleared of the charges with the rest of the group.
Prosecutor Mr Reason Mutimba told the court that on 6 February, 2010 at around 10 am Moffat Ndou and Buhle Dube convened a public gathering at Caravan Park in the border town without notifying the regulatory authority who is the police. He said whilst at the Caravan Park clashes ensued between the groups led by Enos Tshili and Eliot Maveza leading both groups to run wild and destroying property at the venue. They also inflicted some serious injuries to two people who have since been taken to Harare for special treatment, while six other were treated and discharged at Beitbridge district hospital.
Those who were seriously injured are Nhlangano Zvambira and Paul Tadzembwa. During the fight the groups proceeded to the streets in the nearby low density suburbs and town area where they disrupted the flow of traffic by throwing stones at motorists.
Riot police were called in when delegates to the meeting at Caravan Park started exchanging blows after what is believed to be a tribal-based dispute erupted. Several people were seriously injured and 58 people were arrested.
Police recovered 35 boulders and 8 logs from Buhle Dube’s car while other objects were recovered from the scene.
Online Reporter