MDC legislator Yvonne Musarurwa was yesterday slapped with assault charges following an alleged attack on the party’s chief of protocol Kudzanai Mashumba in an incident which was widely circulated on social media.
Musarurwa is the Harare Metropolitan Province proportional representative from the MDC faction led by Douglas Mwonzora, who was in attendance at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts to show solidarity with her.
Represented by Lovemore Madhuku, Masarurwa was not asked to plead to the charge when she appeared before Harare magistrate Denis Mangosi, who remanded her out of custody to December 13 where she will be given a trial date.
Prosecutor Anesu Chirenje consented to her being granted bail by depositing $5 000 and that she resides at her given address and not to interfere with Mashumba until the matter is finalised.
Chirenje told the court that on October 21, Musarurwa and other members of MDC attended a press conference which was to be addressed by Mashumba at the Media Centre in the capital.
It is alleged that Musarurwa, who was part of the audience, confronted Mashumba accusing him of not being a member of their party and allegedly went on to push him and he fell off a chair.
The court heard that other people in the audience then advanced towards Mashumba and assaulted him, while Musarurwa was pretending to stop them.
The incident of the assault was recorded by the media in attendance and the prosecution said they have the video.
Mashumba sustained bruises on his hands and back as a result of the assault that he had to seek medical assistance.