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GWERU Provincial Magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe has remanded Chirumanzu constituency losing CCC candidate Patrick Cheza (50) in custody to Thursday for bail ruling.
Cheza appeared before Mr Mahwe at Mvuma magistrates court facing one count of inciting public violence.
The losing CCC candidate handed himself to the police in the company of his lawyer Mr Esau Mandipa of Mutatu and Mandipa Legal Practice following the arrest of his supporters who assaulted deputy Minister for Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Barbara Rwodzi after her son Mr George Chengetai Rwodzi was involved in an accident with a vehicle belonging to the accused.
Prosecutor Ms Shalom Ndamuka Chikuni told the court that on August 24, at around 1:20 PM Cheza was driving along Charandura- Chaka dust road where he arrived at a road traffic accident involving his motor vehicle and the other vehicle that was being driven by Mr Chengetai Rwodzi.
Upon arrival, Cheza allegedly shouted on top of his voice at dep Min Rwodzi demanding to know why she wanted to kill CCC supporters yet she had won the just ended harmonised elections.
Cheza who was allegedly in control of Master Chidyiwe, Elias Maduveko, Deligull Sinyemba, Courage Mugova, Tonderai Mangau, Tinashe Muzvondiwa, Lovemore Paridzira, Toga Chimhari, Chris Mutovani, Onsimo Gumbu and other nine persons shouted in vernacular language “ngaarohwe” meaning to say beat her.
Cheza, the court heard, allegedly incited Chidyiwe, Maduveko, Sinyemba, Mugova, Mangau, Muzvondiwa, Paridzira, Chimbari, Mutovoni, Gumbu and nine other persons who charged towards the dep Minister with iron bars, logs and knives.
The accused who was at that moment visibly angry raised his right hand in a challenging manner to dep Minister Rwodzi and continued shouting at her that it was time for CCC members to discipline her since they had been troubled by Zanu -PF members for a long time
Acting in common purpose, the court heard that Chidyiwe who was putting on a red T shirt violently tripped the dep Minister with his right foot at the same time trying to stab her on the face with a knife.
Whist the complainant was lying on the ground and crying for help Maduveko, Sinyemba, Mugova, Mangau, Muzvondiwa, Paridzira, Chimbari, Mutovoni, Gumbu and other 9 accused persons joined in and indiscriminately kicked her several times with booted feet all over her body back.
The accused persons stopped attacking her when her security aide fired one shot into the air.
Dep Minister Rwodzi sustained serious injuries and is currently admitted in hospital where she is receiving treatment
The other accused are in custody facing public violence charges.
Online Reporter