Zimbabwe’s High Court has overturned the conviction and sentences of three former opposition legislators who had been found guilty of promoting public violence after attending an alleged unsanctioned political gathering.
Former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislators Amos Chibaya, Costa Machingauta and Monica Mukwada were arrested in January 2023 together with Lancelot Tungwarara and Aleta Virimai.
Prosecutors alleged that the group had convened a political gathering at Machingauta’s residence in the Budiriro high-density suburb of Harare while wearing party regalia and chanting slogans.
Initial conviction and sentence
In March 2025, Harare magistrate Sharon Rakafa-Matsika convicted the accused of participating in a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breach of peace or bigotry.
The court sentenced each of the accused to a fine of $500 or six months imprisonment if the fine was not paid.
In addition, the magistrate imposed a 12-month prison sentence on each accused, which was wholly suspended for five years on condition that they did not commit a similar offence during that period.
Appeal to the High Court
The three former MPs, represented by lawyer Chris Mhike from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, appealed against the conviction.
Their legal team argued that the magistrate had erred in both law and fact when convicting the accused.
On 3 March 2026, High Court judges Justices Pisirayi Kwenda and Davison Foroma ruled in favour of the appellants and set aside both the conviction and the sentence.
The ruling effectively cleared the former legislators and their co-accused of the charges linked to the alleged unsanctioned gathering.
