CCC activists acquitted

A Harare magistrate has acquitted three Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) members, who were facing charges of committing public violence ahead of the March 26 by-elections.

Nobody Makoni (52), Agnes Mabhena (48) and Patricia Zihanzu (50) were arrested on February 27 while conducting a door to door campaign for the opposition party in Epworth.

Prosecutors claimed the trio, while at Belapedzi Farm in Epworth, disturbed peace and assaulted a Zanu PF supporter Stanley Muchemwa.

Muchemwa, prosecutors alleged, sustained injuries after he was assaulted with a metal golf stick, open palms and booted feet.

But on Thursday, magistrate Ruth Moyo Moyo set the trio free at the close of the state case.

They were represented by their lawyer Gift Mtisi from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.

During trial, Mtisi argued that his clients were victims of violence.

Moyo agreed with Mtisi’s submissions, while prosecutors conceded that they had failed to prove a prima facie case against the CCC activists. —