HARARE
–
Former
Citizens
Coalition
for
Change
(CCC)lawmakers
Amos
Chibaya
and
Costa
Machingauta
were
Friday
convicted
for
participating
in
an
unlawful
gathering
in
2023.
Harare
magistrate
Sharon
Rakafa
found
the
two
guilty
alongside
three
other
party
activists
Monica
Mukwands,
Aletta
Viremai
and
Lancelot
Tungwarara
following
a
full
trial.
The
activists
were
all
remanded
out
of
custody
awaiting
their
sentencing
on
Monday.
A
total
of
20
suspects
were
cleared
of
wrongdoing
with
the
magistrate
noting
that
they
were
caught
in
a
dragnet
arrest.
Rakafa
said
the
state
proved
that
Chibaya
and
his
accomplices
indeed
mobilised
for
a
gathering
and
were
also
wearing
their
party
regalia
at
the
time
of
their
arrest.
The
state
proved
that
on
January
14,
2023,
the
25,
including
those
who
were
acquitted,
gathered
at
Machingauta’s
home
for
a
CCC
political
party
members’
presidential
assembly
meeting
in
Budiriro
high
density
suburb,
Harare.
The
invitation
was
authored
and
circulated
on
various
social
media
platforms
by
Tungwarara.
The
five,
who
were
convicted
were
wearing
CCC
regalia
that
include
caps,
helmets
and
T-shirts,
gathered
at
Machingauta’s
home
after
an
invitation
sent
via
social
media
platforms.
While
at
the
gathering,
they
chanted
the
common
CCC
slogan,
“Ngaapinde
hake
Mukomana,
2023
Chamisa
chete
chete”
meaning
“let
the
boy
get
in,
2023
Chamisa
only”,
according
to
the
State.
Police
in
Budiriro
received
a
tip-off
over
the
gathering
and
went
to
investigate.
Upon
arrival,
the
police
observed
that
their
conduct
was
disturbing
the
peace
of
a
section
of
members
of
the
public.
The
police
ordered
them
to
disperse
but
they
resisted,
leading
to
their
arrest,
prosecutors
told
the
court
during
trial.