The court case involving five Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) members who are accused of defacing a political poster belonging to a party rival has been moved to the Tredgold Magistrates Court.
The accused are Pelandaba-Tshabalala Member of Parliament (MP) Gift Ostallos Siziba alongside four other members including Alderman Earnest Rafamoyo, party member Tendai Masotsha, former Ward 20 councillor Simbarashe Dube, and Ward 14 councillor Lovewell Mwinde.
The case was initially heard at the Western Commonage Magistrate.
The presiding magistrate Progress Murandu on Wednesday granted a request made by the state lawyer to move the case.
The case was postponed to 16 November 2023 for allocation of a trial date.
The five are being accused of defacing a political poster belonging to Soneni Moyo who ran as a double candidate in the Pelandaba-Tshabalala constituency against Siziba.
Speaking after the court proceedings, Tinashe Rungaga of Tanaka Law Chambers said there is a possibility that they didn’t want the same magistrate to entertain the same parties again.
“I am not so sure, maybe it’s because there is another trial which is before the same magistrate here at West Commonage, so I think they did not want him to entertain the same parties again.”
According to the State, the accused allegedly removed and tore Moyo’s posters at Pelandaba shops.
“The State will allege that on 16 August 2023 and at around 1200 hours the accused persons who were motorized stopped at Pelandaba shops and went on to remove and tear posters for Soneni which were plastered on walls and ZESA pylons. Whilst in the act Methuseli Bhebhe witnessed this and phoned the complainant. The complainant went on to file a police report at ZRP Western Commonage.”
