Prominent author and playwright Tsitsi Dangarembga and her co-accused, Julie Barnes, have been acquitted of inciting public violence by the High Court after a lower court had convicted them for staging a peaceful demonstration in Harare in 2020.
Dangarembga and Barns launched an appeal in October 2022 shortly after being fined ZW$70 000 and a wholly suspended six months jail term.
The charges stemmed from a demonstration in July 2020 where the two were spotted holding placards that read ‘we want better. Reform our institutions’ in Borrowdale, Harare.
In filing the appeal, their lawyer Chris Mhike said the sentence was disproportionate and there was no evidence linking the duo to incitement of public violence.
Judges of appeal Justices Benjamin Chikowero and Happius Zhou ruled they did not commit any offence by demonstrating adding that magistrate Barbra Mateko misdirected herself in convicting them.
“Full reasons for the judgement will follow, “said Zhou in a brief judgement handed down Monday morning.
In other news – United States based Warriors defender Hadebe suffers serious injury
United States-based Warriors defender Teenage Hadebe has begun his road to recovery after suffering a serious leg injury set to sideline him for 5-6 months.
Hadebe broke his leg last week injuring his ankle as well as his sheen resulting in his right foot being plastered. The gangly defender was absent when Houston Dynamo played to a goalless draw with Real Salt Lake on Sunday.Learn More
