The Sunday News
Peter Matika, Senior Reporter
FORMER entertainment promoter and DJ Marshal Mpofu has been granted $200 bail by the High Court in the ongoing case, where 13 people were arrested on charges of allegedly taking part in the violence that rocked Bulawayo and some parts of the country last month, resulting in the destruction of property worth millions of dollars.
Mpofu is being charged with 12 others, including Bulawayo South Constituency losing independent candidate in last year’s harmonised elections Josphat “Mzaca” Ngulube, who is also out on bail. They are accused of fanning and taking part in the violence that rocked the country in January. Mpofu was granted bail after filing an application at the High Court of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, which was granted by Justice Maxwell Takura on 13 February.
They are accused of burning three cars, destroying a precast wall and breaking several windows of a house belonging to Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial women’s league chairperson Cde Eva Bitu.
According to the State’s case as presented by Ms Grace Zhou, on 14 January at about 7am, the accused persons, acting in connivance with 100 others, unlawfully blocked free movement of traffic at an intersection along Sizinda Road and Nketa Drive.
They allegedly engaged in acts of violence. They went to Cde Bitu’s residence and threw stones and destroyed a precast wall to gain access to the yard. They destroyed window panes before torching her three cars, a Ford Ranger, Nissan NP 300 and a Toyota Vitz.
“They also damaged roofing sheets and the complainant managed to escape unhurt together with her family,” said Ms Zhou.
The court heard that the accused persons proceeded to Tshabalala Housing Office and clinic where they allegedly stoned the buildings.
