GWANDA North legislator, Desire Nkala (41), could not hold back his tears after he
was acquitted in a court case where he was accused of defacing President
Emmerson Mnangagwa’s campaign posters.
Asked why he cried after the judgement, Nkala said he was too angry and frustrated
after being accused of something he did not do.
The presiding Magistrate, Charity Maphosa, said the case lacked evidence to
prosecute and dismissed the matter without pressing any charges against the newly
elected legislator.
“I could not hold back my tears because of frustration and anger. The witness
wanted to dent my new career and tarnish my image,” Nkala said soon after the
judgement.
The judgement was supposed be held last week, but Nkala could not attend the
court proceedings then because the court date clashed with the swearing in
ceremony for the newly elected Members of Parliament.
Circumstances are that on August 5, 2023, the Zimbabwe Republic Police arrested
Nkala and three others for allegedly destroying President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s
campaign posters.
The quartet initially appeared on August 10, 2023 before the Provincial Magistrate,
Charity Maphosa. Thompson Hove prosecuted.
The four are: MP Desire Nkala (41), residing at Blanket Mine, where he is employed
as an Environmental Health Technician.
Accused number two is Nkosilathi Mhlophe (41) also residing at Blanket Mine, where
he is employed as a Lasher and Boiler maker, while accused three is Richard Ncube
42, who is not employed and resides at Vumbachikwe Mine.
The fourth and youngest accused person is 22-year-old Silent Tshuma, who also
resides at Blanket Mine, where he is employed as a Lasher. All four accused
persons are CCC supporters.
The quartet were facing charges of violating Section 152 (1) (3) of the Electoral Act
Chapter 2:13 “Destruction of Political Posters”.
For the State, Prosecutor Hove told the court that on August 5, 2023, the quartet
were seen by the complainant, Bongani Mlilo, who is Zanu PF Enyandeni Village
chairperson.
On the day in question around 6pm the four accused were at Enyandeni Village 3,
where they were putting up CCC campaign posters on trees along the Mtshabezi-
Nyandeni Road.
In the process, they pulled down and destroyed five of President Mnangagwa’s
campaign posters which they replaced with those of CCC, specifically for Nkala and
Nelson Chamisa, it was alleged.
The Court heard that they did all this under the watchful eye of Mlilo. But the
presiding Magistrate, Charity Maphosa, said the case lacked evidence to prosecute
and dismissed the matter without pressing any charges against the newly elected
legislator and three others.
