TRANSFORM Zimbabwe party leader Jacob Ngarivhume has been removed from remand after the State failed to bring witnesses to testify in a case where he was facing charges of attending an unlawful gathering and disorderly conduct.
The matter was heard by Harare magistrate Winfilda Tiyatara.
The State withdrew charges after key witnesses failed to appear in court.
The case will proceed by way of summons.
Ngarivhume was being charged alongside his alleged accomplice Kelvin Gonde.
The duo was being represented by Innocent Nderere.
Ngarivhume is accused of being part of an illegal gathering that included 79 Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) activists.
It was alleged that on June 16, 2024, police received information that the accused persons and 77 other party activists gathered unlawfully at CCC faction leader Jameson Timba’s house in Avondale, Harare.
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According to court documents, police went to Timba’s house and were confronted by a riotous crowd.
The activists allegedly hurled stones at the police and some officers were injured, while a police Mahindra vehicle was damaged.
The State said the activists were subdued after the police fired tear smoke, leading to their arrest.
Timba was sentenced to a suspended two-year prison term, while the other activists received lesser suspended prison terms after spending five months behind bars.
The activists had gathered at Timba’s home reportedly to commemorate the Day of the African Child, but authorities said the meeting was meant to promote public violence and disorderly conduct ahead of a Southern African Development Community Summit.
