Grace rally case: Man to go for psychiatric evaluation

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A MAN from Gweru accused of trying to disrupt First Lady Grace Mugabe’s “meet the people” rally at Amazulu Sports Grounds last week was yesterday directed to be examined by two medical doctors after his family members indicated that he has a history of mental problems.

A MAN from Gweru accused of trying to disrupt First Lady Grace Mugabe’s “meet the people” rally at Amazulu Sports Grounds last week was yesterday directed to be examined by two medical doctors after his family members indicated that he has a history of mental problems.

SILAS NKALA STAFF REPORTER

This emerged when Emmanuel Muzorera (34) appeared before Bulawayo senior magistrate Sibongile Msipa yesterday.

The court was expected to receive a letter written by Bulawayo Provincial Affairs minister Eunice Sandi Moyo pertaining to the case, but it was not presented.

The State represented by Danmore Kasenza then called Muzorera’s mother called his mother, who told the court that her son had a history of mental problems.

This prompted the State to submit that the court should direct him to be examined by two medical doctors to ascertain his mental faculties in accordance with Section 26 of the Mental Health Act.

The magistrate agreed with the State and remanded him out of custody in the care of his parents and relatives.

He will be back in court on November 11 when he is expected to bring two medical reports from the two doctors.

The magistrate advised his relatives to take him to any medical health institution of their choice for examination.

On Moyo’s letter, the State indicated that the case had to continue even if the letter, whose contents are unknown, was not brought to court.

Last week, Muzorera had pleaded guilty to picking the microphone from the podium without permission, but denied the claims he intended to disrupt the rally.

Msipa entered a plea of not guilty as a result, prompting the need to have a full trial conducted to prove if he did not intend to disturb the meeting as he claimed.

Kasenza told the court that on October 15 this year at 3pm, Muzorera was among the crowd of people who attended Grace’s rally at Amazulu.

Muzorera allegedly stood up and moved from the crowd to the podium, where he picked the microphone without permission.