By A Correspondent| Harare Magistrate Apollonia Marutya has acquitted Harare Ward 41 Councillor Kudzai Kadzombe, who had been on trial, answering to two charges allegedly committed during the 2023 general elections.

Councillor Kadzombe, who was represented by Tinashe Chinopfukutwa, Kelvin Kabaya and Jeremiah Bamu of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, had been on trial after she was arrested by Zimbabwe Republic Police officers on 14 September 2023 and charged with assault as defined in section 89 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and obstruction of voter as defined in section 149 of the Electoral Act.

During trial at Harare Magistrates Court, prosecutors alleged that Councillor Kadzombe assaulted Saeed Musaengana, a resident and a voter, at Civic Centre area in Marlborough suburb in Harare West constituency on 23 August 2023, while he was walking on a path on his way to a polling station intending to cast his vote.

On the charge of obstruction of voter, prosecutors claimed that Councillor Kadzombe unlawfully and wilfully obstructed Musaengana, while he was on his way to a polling station, by holding him with his hands placed on his neck and grabbing the back of his neck.

But on 5 September 2024 and after standing a full trial, Magistrate Marutya found Councillor Kadzombe not guilty of committing any offence and acquitted her of the assault and the obstruction of voter charges.