Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka
Court Correspondent
A man accused of leading a violent effort to prevent authorities from evicting illegal settlers at Cloverdale Farm appeared in court yesterday.
Garikai Chirambadare was arraigned before Harare magistrate Ms Ruth Moyo, who remanded him in custody pending a bail application, today.
He is facing charges of public violence.
Prosecutor Ms Nomsa Kangara told the court that on May 16 at around 10:30am, Deputy Sheriff Mrs Sirwadi, accompanied by David Dodzo, Maccduff Madenga, and Anna Chitemamiswe, as well as police officers from the Police Reaction Group (PRG), Duty Uniform Branch (DUB), Support Unit and Canine Unit, proceeded to Cloverdale Farm to carry out a High Court eviction order (HCH2294/24).
Upon arrival, Chirambadare and other settlers allegedly blocked the Harare-Mutare Highway by barricading it with wooden logs and burning tyres.
They also dug trenches along the entrance and access roads within the farm to obstruct the eviction process.
When police attempted to disperse the group, Chirambadare, along with others who are already on remand, resisted and escalated the confrontation. During the commotion, Chirambadare allegedly grabbed a riot gun from a police officer and fled the scene with it.
He was apprehended by the Support Unit Team on May 26.
