MDC-T Manicaland provincial chairperson Julius Magarangoma, who was facing charges of threatening to kill a Buhera headman three years ago, has been acquitted by a Mutare magistrate.
Report by Obey Manayiti
Magarangoma had pleaded not guilty to charges of contravening Section 186 (1) (b) as read in Section 47 of the Criminal (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 09,23.
In handing down the ruling, magistrate Yeukai Chigodora said the State had failed to prove a prima facie case against Magarangoma. She said the words allegedly uttered by the MDC-T chairperson did not constitute an imminent threat of murder as required under the charge.
Charges against Magarangoma were that on November 1 2010 at Manyadza rural home in Mhondiwa village, Buhera, he unlawfully and intentionally communicated a threat that caused fear or belief that he would indeed kill Mutizwa Mhondiwa.
Mhondiwa, also a Zanu PF leader in the area, had claimed that he received a death threat from Magarangoma who was allegedly accusing the headman of trying to unleash terror.
The State had submitted that on the day in question, Magarangoma followed Mhondiwa to his home and confronted him over the headman’s alleged threats against him and other MDC-T supporters.
Following their conversation, Magarangoma left, but Mhondiwa claimed he had been intimidated and threatened with death.
