adminShamiso Dzingire Court Reporter
THE MDC-T organising secretary for Magwegwe constituency in Bulawayo, Samson Mubhemi, allegedly assaulted a fellow member during an “illegal meeting”.
Samson Mubhemi, 39, allegedly assaulted Douglas Mwatse at his house where the opposition party’s Veterans Association was meeting.
Western commonage Resident Magistrate, Sibongile Msipa-Marondedze, heard this last Friday when Mubhemi’s trial kicked off.
State witnesses refuted claims that Mubhemi was their constituency’s organising secretary and dismissed him as an ordinary party member.
“We’re from the same neighbourhood and we’re members of the same party. Mavis Chiwunduru is the organising secretary,” said Mwatse who is the complainant.
The court heard that Mubhemi, who was not invited to the meeting, forced his way into Mwatse’s premises.
“We managed to chase him out but he came back moments later in the presence of Anele Ndebele who is the Member of Parliament for Magwegwe constituency.
“They surrounded me but I managed to escape. I fled my house and Mubhemi gave chase,” Mwatse said.
He said Mubhemi caught up with him and punched him twice in the face.Mwatse alleged he was also kicked on the right knee by Ndebele but fellow State witness, Agnes Zimba, gave a contradictory account.
Zimba said she restrained Ndebele from assaulting Mwatse.
Under cross examination, Mubhemi said the meeting had not been sanctioned by the police.
He said he wanted to save his fellow party members from possible arrest. Mubhemi also said they were not allowed to hold meetings during the by-elections period, hence the need to stop the meeting.
He accused Veterans Association members of causing divisions within the MDC-T but Zimba accused Mubhemi of being disrespectful.
“Mubhemi is a menace. He is in the habit of disrupting our meetings,” Zimba said.
Magistrate Msipa-Marondedze had to order both witnesses and Mubhemi to stick to facts relevant to the assault case.
The matter was remanded to August 25 for continuation of trial.
Online Reporter