A HARARE man who destroyed vaults on 14 graves at the National Heroes’ Acre had his charges dropped on Wednesday after the court established that he was mentally challenged.
BY SENIOR REPORTER
Magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa heard that the suspect, Titus Ruoko (24), committed the offence after he had stopped taking his medication.
Prosecutor Patience Chimusaru told the court that sometime early this month, security personnel at the national shrine arrested Ruoko after finding him smashing clay flower pots at the heroes’ graves.
Some of the fallen heroes whose graves were tampered with included Elliot Manyika, Lloyd Gundu, Charles Dauramanzi, Stephen Nkomo, Sikwili Moyo, Daniel Madzimbamuto, Fakazi Nleya, Gideon Lifa, Brigadier-General Armstrong Paul Gunda, David Karimanzira, Ephraim Masawi, Solomon Mujuru, Cain Nkala and Herbert Chitepo.