By A Correspondent| In Harare, the High Court has quashed the conviction of three former opposition political party legislators, who had been convicted for promoting public violence after they were arrested three years ago for allegedly convening and participating in an unsanctioned gathering.
The three former opposition political party legislators namely Lancelot Tungwarara, Amos Chibaya, Costa Machingauta and Monica Mukwada and Aleta Virimai, who are residents of Harare, were arrested in January 2023 by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers and charged withparticipating in a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breaches of peace, and or bigotry.
During trial, prosecutors claimed that Hon. Chibaya and his accomplices gathered at Hon. Machingauta’s residence in Budiriro high-density suburb for a Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) opposition political party gathering, where they wore CCC political party regalia and chanted the slogan, “Ngaapinde hake Mukomana, 2023 Chamisa chete chete”, which prosecutors translated to mean “Let the boy get in, 2023 Chamisa only”.
Chibaya, Hon. Machingauta, Mukwada, Tungwarara and Virimai were convicted in March 2025 by Harare Magistrate Sharon Rakafa-Matsika, who sentenced them to pay a fine of US$500 with the alternative of six months imprisonment in default of payment. In addition, a 12 month term of imprisonment was imposed on each convicted individual, which was wholly suspended for a period of five years on the condition that they do not commit any similar offence during that time.
Following their conviction and sentence, Hon. Chibaya, Hon. Machingauta, Hon. Mukwada, Tungwarara and Virimai, who were represented by Chris Mhike of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, appealed against Magistrate Rakafa-Matsika’s decision, arguing that she had erred and grossly misdirected herself in convicting them.
On 3 March 2026, High Court Judges Justice Pisirayi Kwenda and Justice Davison Foroma quashed and set aside the conviction and sentence of Chibaya, Machingauta, Hon. Mukwada, Tungwarara and Virimai after allowing their appeal and acquitted them.
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