MDC-T councillor in court for assault

counts of assault.
The 35-year-old councillor once appeared before the same courts facing similar charges recently. He was later acquitted.
On the current case, Bande is accused of physically assaulting two Zanu-PF supporters, Samuel Shumbamhini (48) and Getrude Chivende (49).
Bande yesterday appeared before magistrate Ms Gamuchirai Siwardi who recused herself from the matter, saying she had handled his cases twice on similar charges before.
She remanded the matter to August l1 and referred the case to another court.
Prosecutor Miss Hilda Huni alleged that on January 22 this year, Bande and his accomplices identified as Thomas and Ndada, who are still at large, went to Shumbamhini’s house.
They met his wife and they demanded to see Shumbamhini and she went inside to call her husband, it is alleged.
When Shumbamhini came out, it is alleged Thomas instructed him to sit down and he refused. He then pushed him to the ground.
While on the ground, Thomas kicked him in the stomach before Bande and Ndada joined in.
The trio heavily beat him in the full view of his wife.
Shumbamhini’s wife started shouting for help forcing the trio run away, it is alleged.
As Bande and his accomplices were running away, they met Chivende at the gate and beat her.
It is further alleged they pushed her to the gate and she suffered a dislocation on her left leg.
A police report was made leading to Bande’s arrest. Shumbamhini and Chivende were refe-rred to Harare Central Hospital for treatment.