Paul Nyathi

In a very surprising move,
Local Government Minister, July Moyo has ordered the immediate reinstatement of suspended Chinhoyi Ward 11 councillor Voster Mashevedzanwa.

Mushevedzanwa is currently on bail pending appeal following his incarceration for assaulting a police officer.

Mashevedzanwa (41) was in February sentenced to four years in jail by Chinhoyi magistrate Tapiwa Banda for the offence.

Mashevedzanwa together with eight accomplices, Desire Mwarukira, Felix Gonesi, Njabulo Ndlovu, Greythan Nyarukokora, Simbarashe Tapfumanei, Kudzanai Samuel, Melusi Ndlovu and Blessing Nyango were facing two counts of assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest.

They were all found guilty on the two counts.

It was the State’s case that on May 19, 2019 Mashevedzanwa and accomplices assaulted Danny Badalani stationed at Chinhoyi Army Intelligence and Joseph Kamuremwa stationed at ZRP Chemagamba during an operation to arrest illegal money dealers at 24-hour Complex.

The court heard that Mashevedzanwa and his accomplices assaulted Kamuremwa while he was lying on the ground.

Kamuremwa sustained injuries and was referred to hospital for treatment.

They were also accused of resisting arrest by police officers on the same day.

The councillor subsequently spent over a month in jail before lodging a High Court appeal and was granted bail.

However, Moyo, through powers vested in him by the Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29:15), recently wrote a letter to the Chinhoyi Municipality instructing the immediate lifting of the suspension.

He is one of the two Zanu PF councillors in Chinhoyi, with MDC Alliance having 13.