The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (The Forum) is currently representing individuals who have been charged with violence during a political event and insulting President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
According to the Forum, it was defending a Gweru resident, Movine Vurayai, who was accused of stealing US$700 from Albert Chirawu after pushing him out of a building hosting a political gathering for the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) in January.
“The Forum has accompanied Movine Vurayai and Learnmore Makanika to Nehanda Police Station in Gweru where they were wanted in connection with a reported robbery case. The police formally charged Vurayai with robbery, claiming that on 20 January 2024, he dragged Albert Chirawu out of a building where there was a CCC political gathering and pushed him,” said the coalition in a statement.
“Chirawu claimed he lost US$700 while his jacket was torn when Vurayai pushed him out of the building. Vurayai conceded pushing Chirawu but denied robbing him of US$700 as well as tearing his jacket.”
The Forum said the State then dropped the robbery charge against Vurayai but maintained the assault charge.
In another case, the Forum is defending a Gokwe man who allegedly called President Mnangagwa a “Scud.”
“The Forum is representing Mark Mandiki from Gokwe who is being charged for undermining and insulting the Office of the President,” said the coalition.
“Vurayai’s lawyer, Noble Chinhanu of the Forum, mitigated on his behalf. Vurayi will be back in court on 21 March 2024 for sentencing,” said the coalition.
Mandiki is alleged to have uttered the insulting words on 25 February 2024 in Gokwe while insulting a Zanu PF member, Doubt Tonhorayi, said the forum.
“‘Your President Mnangagwa looks like an ancient opaque beer known as SCUD, which is why it was named ED because it is as rotten as him. Damn your ***** all of you. You burst off condoms, you were not even supposed to be born.’” said the Forum noting the statements allegedly made by Mandiki.
The Forum said the State led three witnesses and closed its case while the accused person will proceed to make his defence on 3 April 2024.
“Mandiki says they are mere fabrications because Tonhorayi was once a CCC member then he joined Zanu PF in 2018, so now there is bad blood between the two,” said the coalition.
