By Cephas Shava
Mwenezi – Former Mwenezi District Organizer of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) then led by Nelson Chamisa, Tineyi Mapepa, who was summoned to court in April facing charges of inciting violence, has last week (June 25) appeared before Mwenezi magistrate as his trial resumed.
Mapepa (46) of plot number 67 village 4 Muzhanjire Ranch in Mwenezi District is being charged with incitement as defined in Section 187 (1) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23.
Appearing before Mwenezi Resident Magistrate Conceptor Ngwerume, Mapepa who was represented by Noble Chinhanu of the Jiti Law Chambers pleaded not guilty to the charges of incitement.
It was the state’s case as presented by prosecutor, Leyton Katsidzira that on July 23, 2023 while at Rutenga Business Centre in Mwenezi at around 1415hrs Mapepa convened a meeting on behalf of the CCC party at the business center. The meeting was sanctioned by the police to start at 1400hrs and to end at 1600hrs.
The State alleged, since Mapepa was one of the CCC leader, at around 1600 hrs he was asked by police officers to disperse the crowd but the accused reportedly refused to obey as he allegedly started to tell people not to disperse and the crowd did so up until 17 00 hrs when a convoy of then party leader Chamisa arrived at Rutenga growth point.
The state further argues that the police officers approached the accused person and his crowd to try and disperse them but Mapepa and other members pelted them with stones and threatened to assault them. The officers later on managed to disperse the crowd.
One State witness managed to testify against Mapepa on Tuesday and the matter was postponed to July 2 where the investigating officer is expected to lead evidence.
