Masvingo Magistrate Oliver Mudzongachiso on Thursday found Deputy Zimbabwean Youth and Indigenisation Minister Tongai Matutu guilty of assaulting Masvingo Chief Serima, also known as Vengesai Rushwaya, ordering him to pay a fine of US$100.
Matutu, a member of Parliament for the Movement for Democratic Change formation led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, was alleged to have slapped and punched Chief Serima at the Matizha Business Center in September.
Matutu’s lawyers argued that the chief gave differing accounts of the alleged assault, questioning his veracity.
Matutu is considered to be the Tsvangirai MDC's main strategist in Masvingo and as such responsible for ZANU-PF’s first ever defeat in the constituency, political sources said.
Matutu, who is appealing the judgement, told VOA Studio 7 reporter Tatenda Gumbo that the charges against him were politically motivated.