7 Mutare residents acquitted of kidnapping

Zim Now Writer

Seven Mutare residents, who include some teenagers, have been acquitted after standing trial on charges of kidnapping a Zanu PF party supporter in the run-up to last month’s Harmonised Elections, in a major kick in the teeth of law enforcement agents and prosecutorial authorities.

The seven namely Succeed Science Ruvinga,19, Tadiwanashe Chimbare, 19, Moses Mukombiwa, 52, who was the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change’s aspiring councillor for Ward 7 in Mutare South Constituency, Martin Nyamapfeni, 33 years, Martha Gwizo, 39, Cynthia Loveness Tombo, 37 and Zvakanaka Maziraho, 37, had been on trial before Mutare Magistrate Perseverence Makala after they were arrested on August 18, 2023 by Zimbabwe Republic Police officers, who charged them with kidnapping as defined in section 93(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

During trial, prosecutors alleged that the seven Mutare residents accused the complainant, John Marikasa, a 28-year-old Zanu PF political party supporter together with Best Murakata, of removing their election campaign posters and deprived him of his freedom of bodily movement by forcing him into their white Ford Ranger vehicle from Mazonwe shops in Burma Valley to an area near Matanuska Farm and back to Mazonwe shops.

Apart from arresting the seven Mutare residents, ZRP officers also seized the Ford Ranger vehicle.

Marikasa reportedly sustained injuries on his jaws after being assaulted by the seven Mutare residents and lost his Itel mobile phone handset and US$200, which he claimed, had been stolen during the time he got kidnapped.

In their defence, Ruvinga, Chimbare, Mukombiwa, Nyamapfeni, Gwizo, Tombo and Maziraho, who were represented by Cosmos Chibaya of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, argued that they were turned into accused persons and yet they were actually victims of assault and most of them had visible injuries sustained from being assaulted by some Zanu PF political party supporters, who were led by Darton Zengeni, Raymond Samange, Earlyhood Pondai, Loice Kasimbe and one Wasitaki NFPK, who barricaded the road at Mazonwe shops as they wanted to pass.

On Tuesday September 19, 2023, the seven Mutare residents were acquitted after Magistrate Makala found them not guilty of committing the alleged offence of kidnapping Magistrate Makala ruled that prosecutors had failed during trial to present evidence supporting components of the alleged crime against Ruvinga, Chimbare, Mukombiwa, Nyamapfeni, Gwizo, Tombo and Mazirahoand that there were several inconsistences in relation to the evidence adduced by State witnesses.