Court Reporter
MDC-T MP for Harare Ronia Bunjira and six other party activists, who allegedly attacked police officers who sought to stop their illegal demonstration, have been further remanded in custody.Bunjira (49), who got into Parliament through proportional representation, is jointly charged with Stanley Manyenga (32), Keith Charumbira, Danmore Tshuma (34), Stewart Gwebe (24), Linnete Chibinya (30) and Bridget Nyandoro (29).
The six were granted bail by magistrate Mr Vakayi Chikwekwe, but remained in custody after the State invoked Section 121 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act.
The section allows the State to hold suspects for a week while it considers appealing.
It is alleged that Bunjira and 40 other party activists, obstructed the free movement of people and traffic as they demonstrated holding placards.
The activists appeared before Mr Milton Serima on Tuesday and prosecutor Miss Sharon Mashavira told the court that the appeal has since been filed at the High Court.
On their previous remand, the group successfully made an application to be medically examined by two doctors after alleging that they were assaulted while in police custody.
However, Miss Mashavira told the court that there had been a challenge at the Remand Prison due to the non-availability of medical doctors.
She then undertook to write a request for enquiry to the officer-in-charge Harare Remand Prison.
The group’s lawyer, Mr Obey Shava, successfully made a fresh application to have his clients medically examined by a doctor of their choice.
He accused the State of not respecting court orders and human life. Mr Serima ruled that the group be medically examined by a medical practitioner of their choice while in custody.
It is alleged that on August 18 at around 11am MDC-T supporters gathered at Harvest House with intentions to carry out a demonstration.
Their placards, the court heard, were written “We demand our jobs now”, “We want our jobs now” and “Release our leader”.
The group marched from Harvest House, their party’s headquarters going around town before they were stopped by police officers at the intersection of Jason Moyo Avenue and Julius Nyerere Way.
Meanwhile, the Harare Civil Court yesterday dismissed a peace order application sought by a woman suspected of having an adulterous affair with Zanu-PF legislator for Mhondoro-Ngezi Cde Mike Gava due to lack of merit.
Belinda Cele took Cde Gava’s wife, Tendai Wenyika, to court last Friday seeking a peace order citing threats from the legislator’s wife.
According to Cele’s application, Wenyika verbally abused her during the Zanu-PF Youth League Conference held in Harare last month.
In passing the judgment, magistrate Ms Babra Masinire said there was no continuous breach of Cele’s peace by Wenyika.
In her application, Cele claimed that Wenyika threatened to kill her for having an affair with Cde Gava.
Cele claimed Wenyika threatened to “beat up and kill her for sleeping with her husband”.
Wenyika denied the allegations, but accused Cele of being in a relationship with her husband.
“The complainant has approached this honourable court with dirty hands seeking a peace order from me, yet she is the one who is in an adulterous relationship with my husband to whom I am legally married,” she said.
Without being provoked, it is alleged the group started attacking the police officers with stones, leading to one of the police officers sustaining injuries on his face and back.