Mutare mayor sues MDC-T colleague

By Liberty Dube

MUTARE – Former Housing and Social Amenities Minister Mr Giles Mutsekwa, Mutare mayor Clr Tatenda Nhamarare and Raphael Mutandi, who were in February acquitted of assault charges, have sued a local councillor for $174 000 as damages and legal costs.

Clr Crispen Dube some time last year reported to the police that the trio together with Kingston Mutandi had teamed up and assaulted him near Megawatt Building in Mutare.

Mr Mutsekwa, Clr Nhamarare and Mr Mutandi were acquitted for lack of evidence, while the fourth person, Kingstone Mutandi, was found guilty and fined.

The trio, through their law firm, Gonese and Ndlovu Legal Practitioners, said they wanted $8 000 each for legal fees and $50 000 each for contumely and discomfort suffered as well as interest at prescribed rate and costs of suits.

Circumstances into the matter were that on June 6 last year, near the Zesa Building in central Mutare, they allegedly mobbed Clr Dube whom they accused of sabotaging Mr Mutsekwa’s re-election bid in the Chikanga-Dangamvura constituency.

Prosecuting, Mr Malvern Musarurwa said a misunderstanding had arisen within MDC-T supporters over the party’s representative for the National Assembly seat in Chikanga-Dangamvura constituency between Mr Mutsekwa and incumbent Chikanga-Dangamvura Member of National Assembly Mr Arnold Tsunga.

Following a misunderstanding, the court heard that Mr Mutsekwa incited his accomplices to ‘‘deal’’ with the complainant.

Kingston Mutandi tripped and head-butted Dube once in the face before others joined in.

As a result of the attack, Dube sustained cuts on the upper and lower lips, five loose teeth, painful left elbow, painful left hip and a bruise on the inner right ankle.

However, in his defence, Mr Mutsekwa maintained that he was at his office when all this was happening and had no knowledge of the assault. He noted that the charge was a way of tarnishing him politically.

Raphael Mutandi said he was at home with his wife on the day and time Dube was assaulted.

In his ruling, magistrate Noah Gwatidzo said the State had failed to dispute the defence of Mutsekwa and Raphael Mutandi beyond reasonable doubt. Therefore, there was no basis to convict them. Manica Post