MDC legislator Yvonne Musarurwa, pictured, who is accused of attacking the party’s chief of protocol Kudzanai Mashumba in an incident that was widely circulated on social media, will stand trial on January 31.
Musarurwa, who is the Harare metropolitan province proportional representative from the Douglas Mwonzora-led MDC faction, appeared before Harare magistrate Tafadzwa Miti yesterday.
She was furnished with the prosecution’s papers and video evidence which the state is relying on for the trial.
The parliamentarian, who is out on $5 000 bail, was not asked to plead to the charge when she initially appeared before Harare magistrate Denis Mangosi last month.
Musarurwa was ordered to reside at her given address and not to interfere with Mashumba until the matter is finalised.
Prosecutor Anesu Chirenje told the court that on October 21, Musarurwa and other MDC members 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 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 entire incident was captured live on video by journalists, who were covering the press conference, and the State insists it has the footage of the melee.
Mashumba sustained bruises on his hands and back as a result of the assault and had to seek medical assistance.