MDC-T activist Willard Nyazorwe told a Rusape magistrate that aspiring Makoni North legislator David Tekeshe allegedly bit a police officer in self-defence after law enforcement agents took turns to assault him for leading a demonstration.
Nyazorwe made the remarks on the witness stand on Wednesday, while Taurai Khupe of Khupe Law Chambers was leading evidence in defence.
He further told magistrate Shingi Mutiro that he was also arrested after trying to rescue Tekeshe, who was being assaulted by more than 20 armed police officers.
Nyazorwe said when the incident occurred they were celebrating outside the court premises after a party
activist, Tazviona Marima, had been granted bail on a charge of criminal nuisance for allegedly flashing a red card inscribed “Mugabe must go’’ at a police station.
“I was there for the case of our MDC-T member. We were hearing the case in court and we were about 40 to 50 members, but a lot of police officers were all over the town and at court premises,” he said.
“When our member was granted bail, we gathered outside shaking hands and celebrating, we were happy and we did not chant any party slogans and we did not sing.
“But after David Tekeshe had paid the money for bail, as we were moving towards town, police officers came to Tekeshe and attacked him, they were around 20 to 30. They assaulted him with batons and that was when he bit one of them in self-defence. At that juncture, Tekeshe fainted and when police realised that, they moved away from him.
“I rushed to him and pulled him up, resuscitated him. When they (police officers) realised I had succeeded, they came to arrest us, alleging that we had assaulted a police officer.”
It is the State’s case that Tekeshe and Nyazorwe led a demonstration outside Rusape Magistrates’ Court in October last year before assaulting a police officer.
It is further alleged the police officer bled profusely. The two deny the charge.
The matter was postponed to May 30 for judgment.
The State is represented by Tirivanhu Mutyasiri.-ND
