Tinashe Sambiri|Eight MDC Alliance members have been acquitted of charges of participating in the July 31 protests.

Below is a statement posted by MDC Alliance :

In Chiredzi, Magistrate Joy Chikodzore acquitted 8 members including Councillor Ropafadzo Makumire and MP Muchirairwa Mugidho.
The members had been on trial for allegedly participating in the 31 July anti-govt demo.

In setting the 8 free, Magistrate Chikodzore ruled that there was no evidence presented during trial proving that they committed the offence and that essential elements were not proven and the evidence of all state witnesses was manifestly discredited during cross examination.

Magistrate Chikodzore also ruled that prosecutors failed to present evidence proving that all the residents, who were represented by Martin Mureri of @ZLHRLawyers were in Chiredzi town on the day when they were arrested.

The members had been charged with contravening section 37(1)(a) of Criminal Code after participating in a protest in which they allegedly carried placards with messages denouncing President Mnangagwa such as “ZANU PF Must Go”&”Shutdown Inflation Not Innocent Citizens”.