NPA withdraws perjury charges against former Harare Mayor Herbert Gomba

Zim Nlow Writer

The National Prosecuting Authority has withdrawn perjury charges against former Harare Mayor Councillor Herbert Gomba, effectively putting an end to the legal proceedings that had been ongoing for over a year.

Councillor Gomba, who is a member of the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change, was accused of plotting to manipulate the electoral process in his favour during the 2018 general elections.

The charges stemmed from allegations that he provided false information in an Affidavit of Residence and misrepresentation of his address while registering as a voter in Ward 27 of Harare Municipality.

The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights confirmed the latest developments.

“The prosecution of former Harare Mayor Councillor Herbert Gomba has been stopped after @NPAZim withdrew perjury charges levelled against him last year for allegedly plotting to manipulate the electoral process in his favour during the 2018 general elections.

Prosecutors from the NPA argued that he lied about residing at House Number 5756 in Glen Norah B suburb.

Represented by Harrison Nkomo of ZLHR, Councillor Gomba vehemently denied the accusations throughout the legal proceedings.

On May 3, 2023, he appeared before Harare Magistrate Stanford Mambanje, where the NPA made the surprising move to withdraw the charges before a plea was entered, effectively granting Councillor Gomba freedom from prosecution.