By Lionel Saungweme |Bulawayo Magistrate Sithembile Ncube has acquitted five of 12 Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) members charged with contravening section 36(1) (a)(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23 (Public Violence).

Police (Law & Order) Department details arrested the 12, now nicknamed “the dozen” in MDC-T circles, after violence for control of the party offices in Bulawayo broke out between supporters of MDC-T President Nelson Chamisa and then MDC-T Vice President Thokozani Khupe on 4 March 2018. Subsequently, loyalists of Hon Nelson Chamisa lost control of the premises. Five vehicles and five window panes were damaged in the scuffle.

The acquitted namely MDC-T Provincial Chairman, Gift Banda, Robson Tera, Donaldson Mabutho, Sibongubuhle Sibanda and Edith Moyo are cited in court papers as accused number two, six, seven, ten and twelve. Prince Bhutshe, of Mathonsi Ncube Law Chambers, had made an application for discharge for nine of the twelve. Magistrate Ncube responded by acquitting five while putting the seven on their defence. “They have a prima facie case,” she said.

The remaining seven are Bulawayo Provincial Youth Chairman, Cllr Mlandu Ncube, Felix Mhaka, MDC-T National Youth National Secretary for Elections, Kunashe Muchemwa, Raymond Gombedza, Michael Mubasa, Takunda Madzana and Erick. They are respectively cited in court papers as accused number one, three, four, five, eight, nine and eleven.

The trial continues tomorrow.