By Own Correspondent| Three MDC members who engaged in violence during the just ended primary elections have been hauled before the court facing assault charges.

The trio identified as John Katiyo (44), Girisoti Mandere (47) and Gift Chihambakwe (50) in Tuesday appeared before Harare magistrate, Edwin Machera who released them on $100 bail each pending trial.

The three were however not asked to plead.

As part of their bail conditions the trio were ordered to continue residing at their present addresses and not interfere with state witnesses until their case is finalised.

Prosecutor Ropafadzo Bosch told the coirt that on Sunday, Katiyo and Mandere were conducting MDC primary elections for councillors at Fundo Primary School, Kuwadzana Phase 3 in Harare, when the complainant (name not supplied) approached Mandere and asked him to allow a party member identified as Mhashu to enter the polling station.

The court heard that this did not go well with Katiyo and an argument ensued between the parties.

Katiyo allegedly refused to allow Mhashu to enter the polling station and he reportedly grabbed him by the collar and pushed him away before Mandere also joined in.

They were later restrained by other members and the case was reported to the police, leading to their arrest.

The court heard that Chihambakwe was also at the polling station and assaulted Didymus Makochekanwa and Ronald Manjera by striking them on the face.

It is the state’s case that the assault was triggered by their political differences.

The State has lined up independent witnesses to testify in the cases.

Source: Daily News