Bail granted for man accused of inciting post elec...

Bail granted for man accused of inciting post election violence via WhatsApp

Michael Mashiri

A man who was part of a team that allegedly incited violence soon after the Harmonised Elections last year has been granted bail.

Innocent Tafadzwa Chiradza, 39, of Gweru, appeared before magistrate Dennis Mangosi accused incitement to commit violence.

The State through prosecutor Rufaro Chonzi, alleges that on August 23, 2023, Zimbabwe had general elections and the results were announced during the same period and this did not go in favour of Chiradza and prompted him and his accomplices who are still at large to send messages to group members of a Whatsapp group.

The State alleges that from August 23, 2023, to September 1, 2023, Chiradza and his accomplices forwarded WhatsApp messages, to members of National Reclamation and Zimbabwe Politics Unplugged Whatsapp group, urging members of the group to incite public violence as defined in section 187 (1)(b) as read with subsection 36(1)(a) of the Criminal Law, Codification And Reform Act, Chapter 9:23, inciting members of the Whatsapp group to engage in acts of public violence.

The message reads "I will tear off your scarf and let my people escape from your power once and for all then you will know that I am the lord" Ezekiel 13 v 21.

Zimbabwe will soon be free" and "As citizens we stand united in demanding fresh elections following the recent disputed and controversial election, the integrity of our democratic processes must be upheld."

The messages were meant to incite the public to engage in a public violence in dispute of the released general elections results.

He was ordered to deposit US$200 bail.