Magistrate Who Called MDC "Puppets" Forced Off Case

Oliver Mudzongachiso, who in December convicted another MDC MP and Deputy Minister of Youth, Indigenisation and Empowerment, Tongai Matutu for assaulting Chief Serima, reluctantly opted out of the case after complaints from Mwonzora’s lawyers.

Mwonzora’s legal team had complained to Chief Magistrate Hlekani Mwayers that they would not get a fair trial after the magistrate’s anti-MDC utterances at a Masvingo hotel.

The Masvingo magistrate is reported to have told patrons during a beer binge at Masvingo’s Chevron Hotel that he was going to convict MDC “puppets.”

On Thursday Mwonzora, who is a lawyer by profession, confirmed to Radio VOP: “The magistrate recused himself from the case on Tuesday after we had complained of his conduct which was likely to influence the case. He announced his decision at the court in Masvingo because he was clearly not suitable.”

Mwonzora represented Matutu in his assault case which was presided over by Mudzongachiso who convicted him and fined him U$ 100.