HARARE – The High Court is this Tuesday set to hand down judgement in a matter in which Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) vice president Tendai Biti is seeking referral of his assault case to the Constitutional Court.
Judgement was expected Monday but Justice Rodgers Manyangadze said he was not ready before deferring the ruling to Tuesday.
The matter was argued by both parties last Wednesday before judgement was reserved.
Biti is accused of verbally assaulting a Russian businesswoman Tatiana Aleshina at the Harare Magistrates’ Court in 2020.
The lawmaker argues his case is not criminal and is seeking the Constitutional Court intervention after his application was dismissed by Harare magistrate Vongai Guuriro Muchuchuti.
Trial commenced recently despite several protests by the lawyer who also sought recusal of the magistrate with no luck.
Muchuchuti last year refused to step down prompting Biti to approach the High Court.
The politician’s appeal was also dismissed.
Aleshina alleges that she was verbally assaulted by Biti for no reason.
The incident, she alleges, left her traumatised and humiliated since she had never been intimidated in that manner before.
After the insult, Aleshina claims she developed some stress related health complications and had to seek medical remedy.
The State, represented by Michael Reza, feels Biti is buying time as progress has stalled over the past two years at his instance.
