Masvingo Activists Appear in Court:
Five Masvingo activists Brighton Ramusi, Prosper Tiringindi, Zivanai Muzorodzi, Godfrey Kurauone and Brian Chimwayi appeared in court on the 22nd of February before a Masvingo Magistrate. They are facing charges of public violence emanating from challenging failure by Masvingo Polytechnic authorities to refund students who enrolled for a tourism program that suffered a still birth. After initially advertising the introduction of this department and accepting payment from students, the authorities have now made an about turn by scrapping plans to have the department and seem to be uninterested in refunding the students. The trial has been postponed to the 8th of March.
Masvingo Activist Acquitted:
Masvingo activist Arnold Batirai was acquitted when he appeared before a Masvingo magistrate, Mr. Mudzongachiso on the 24th of February. He was charged with assault, charges arising from an allegation that he hackled a police officer late last year. Despite several postponements to allow the state to bring its witnesses, no witness was forthcoming leading to his acquittal.
He had appeared on February 21 where the magistrate had set February 24 as the last chance for the state to present its witnesses which the state failed to do.