Staff Reporter

CCC losing candidate for Chirumhanzu South constituency, Patrick Cheza was arrested in Gweru on 27 August 2023 for attacking his competitor in the just ended Harmonised General Elections.

Cheza, leading a group of hooligans, attacked ZANU PF legislator-elect for Chirumhanzu South constituency, Barbra Rwodzi on 24 August 2023.

Circumstances are that Rwodzi`s vehicle was involved in a road traffic accident with Cheza`s Nissan Navara ACX 6659 near Gonamombe Business Center in Chirumhanzu on 24 August 2023.Consequently, Rwodzi rushed to the accident scene to assist her children. She was, however, intercepted by Cheza who instructed CCC youths aboard his accident damaged car to physically assault Rwodzi. The activists deflated the rear right tyre of the accident damaged Toyota Land Cruiser vehicle as well as those of the other vehicle which was being driven by Rwodzi. Rwodzi proceeded to file a report of assault while Cheza also filed a traffic accident report.

Cheza, who was on the run since the incident on 24 August 2023, was finally arrested on 27 August 2023. He appeared before Mvuma magistrate, Tendai Mahwe on 28 August facing charges of inciting public violence. Cheza was remanded in custody to 31 August 2023. He was represented by Esau Mandipa of Matatu and Mandipa Legal Practitioners while the State was represented by public prosecutor, Shalom Chikuni.

Relatedly, four CCC activists namely Elias Madhuveko, Delight Jaravaza, Courage Mugova and Macmaster Mhizha who are being charged with public violence related to Rwodzi`s assault, were also remanded in custody to 31 August 2023 by Mahwe.

Meanwhile, Mahwe postponed two other cases against Cheza, Tinashe Moyo, e Madhuveko, Tafadzwa Mavimbe and Alex Gamuchirai to 31 August 2023 for trial. Cheza and others are also being charged with assault and malicious damage to property against Zanu PF inspection during the voter inspection exercise in May 2023. Cheza has been taking advantage of his financial muscle to pay his nine hooligans to harass party members.

In their preliminary observation reports Nevers Mumba and the European Union (EU) claimed that ZANU PF unleashed violence on CCC. However, such incident and many other unreported cases indicate that the opposition was the main perpetrator of violence.