THE four MDC–T activists accused of assaulting party deputy treasurer-general Elton Mangoma were on Wednesday released on $100 bail each after spending a week in police custody.
PHILLIP CHIDAVAENZI SENIOR REPORTER Francis Machimbidzofa (38), Enock Mukudu (31), Stefani Jahwi (36) and Samson Nerwande (41) were granted bail after Harare magistrate Tendai Mahwe concurred with the defence team of Douglas Mwonzora and Benjamin Chikowero that the State case was too weak to justify the accused persons’ continued incarceration.
Nerwande will, however, pay an additional $100 since he is facing another charge of public violence after allegedly assaulting one Angirayi Moyowatidi, whom he accused of supporting Mangoma.
In his ruling, Mahwe noted that the video recording of the incident, which was played in court, did not place the accused persons at the scene of the offence. “From the totality of the evidence placed before this court, the State fears are unfounded. The State case appears weak. It is the finding of this court that the accused persons are proper candidates for bail,” he said.
As part of their bail conditions, the four were also ordered not to interfere with witnesses, to reside at their given addresses and to report once every Friday at CID Law and Order section until finalisation of the matter.
During the bail application on Tuesday, Mwonzora had told the court that his clients were suitable candidates for bail because they had been co-operating with the police during investigations and were eager to clear their names.
He also argued they were not going to interfere with witnesses because their paths did not cross during their day-to-day routines.
The four face charges of contravening the Section 89 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act: Chapter 9:23.
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Allegations against them are that on February 15 this year at around 4 o’clock in the afternoon, they waylaid Mangoma outside the party’s headquarters at Harvest House and allegedly confronted him as he tried to get into party president Morgan Tsvangirai’s vehicle.
The court heard that the youths allegedly assaulted the ex-Energy minister with open hands and clenched fists all over.
Mangoma is alleged to have suffered nose bleeding while his spectacles, valued at $300, were damaged and his shirt was torn. Mangoma was then whisked away in Tsvangirai’s vehicle. The four were arrested on February 25.
