High Court acquits Ngarivhume

Harare (New Ziana) – Transform Zimbabwe party leader, Jacob Ngarivhume, was freed by the High Court on Monday on appeal against conviction for inciting public violence.

He was sentenced to three years in jail and detained at Chikurubi Prison pending the outcome of the appeal against both conviction and sentence.

Ngarivhume was found guilty of leading a July 31st Movement that allegedly sought to mobilise people in 2020 to protest fuel price increases, and the general economic hardships in the country.

He allegedly posted on his X handle, then twitter, inciting the public to take to the streets without police clearance as required by law.

But High Court judges Pisirayi Kwenda and Fatima Maxwell, ruling on the appeal, found no sufficient evidence to prove that the obscure politician owned the twitter handle, and quashed both his conviction and sentence.

His lawyer, Lovemore Madhuku, said the state had consented that it did not have a strong case, leaving the judges with no option but to free Ngarivhume.

“The state agreed that it did not have a strong case. The High Court has set aside the conviction of Jacob Ngarivhume. This means he is now a free man. The court agreed with us in every respect that the magistrate court did not have a basis at all (to convict him), so he had his 8 months wasted.

“He is not guilty; he will walk out a free man. He will have his Christmas at home,” said Madhuku.

New Ziana