UZ pro-Wiwa vandalism suspects remanded in custody...

UZ pro-Wiwa vandalism suspects remanded in custody for bail hearing

Michael Mashiri

Four university students from UZ who stand accused of defacing walls of several public and private buildings in the CBD to protest the incarceration of CCC Legislator Job Sikhala have appeared in court.

Emmanuel Sitima, 24, of New Mabvuku, Comfort Ncekuyenkosi Mpofu, 22, of Entumbane, Bulawayo, Tawanda Benjamin Watadza, 24, Rimuka, of Kadoma and Lionel Andrew Madamombe, 24, of Chivhu were before magistrate Learnmore Mapiye accused of criminal nuisance.

Job Sikhala is in custody since June 2022 on charges of inciting violence. He has been convicted on charges of obstructing the course of justice in the same matter.

The State alleges that during the period between May 14, 2023 to May 15, 2023 between 0300 and 0500 hours, Sitima, Mpofu, Watadza and Madamombe, with others still at large, went to the Parliament of Zimbabwe Building along Nelson Mandela Avenue, Harare each carrying red and black spray paint cans.

They evaded security on duty and spray painted on and defaced the southern facing wall of the Parliament building,

They used red paint, to write the words "Free Wiwa" and "Free Job Sikhala".

The four and their accomplices also went to the High Court of Zimbabwe building's eastern facing wall along Third Street and sprayed the building's eastern facing wall along Third Streetwith the words "Free Wiwa."

They proceeded to Methodist Trinity Church in Zimbabwe, Number 7 Central Avenue, Harare and defaced eastern facing wall of the church with the phrases "Stop Judicial Capture" and "Free Job Sikhala."

The four and their accomplices also went to The Constitutional Court of Zimbabwe, defaced the wall of the Constitutional Court of Zimbabwe's southern facing wall along Samora Machel Avenue by writing on it the words "Free Wiwa" and "Free Job Sikhala."

They spray painted and defaced the wall of the Harare Civil Court Northern facing wall by spraying it with red and black paint inscribing the words, "Free Wiwa", "Free Job Sikhala."

They went to Runhare House, Corner Kwame Nkrumah Avenue and Simon Muzenda Street, Harare and spray painted the words "Free Wiwa," and "Free Job Sikhala".

In the same period they also went to Karigamombe Building, at Corner Julius Nyerere Way and Samora Mache Avenue, Harare and spray painted the building wall.

On May 15, security details who were manning the seven areas discovered the malice and severally reported the matter to the police.

On May 17, detectives received the information leading to the suspects’ arrest.

Mapiye remanded the quartet to May 24 May for bail application continuation.