By Staff Writer/Agencies
THE State has accused opposition politician Tendai Biti of targeting local businesswoman Tatiana Aleshina for verbal assault because she is the face of a rival land developer, West Properties, which is involved in another legal wrangle with his client George Katsimberis.
Deputy Prosecutor-General Michael Reza who is prosecuting the case also told the court that Biti hates Aleshina because her company’s housing projects had turned Zimbabwe into a destination of choice for investors.
Reza said this while cross-examining Biti in the matter where the latter is accused of verbally assaulting Aleshina at the Harare Magistrates Court in 2020.
Biti, a lawyer, allegedly verbally assaulted Aleshina while coming out of a court hearing between Aleshina’s company and George Katsimberis.
Reza said to Biti that he hates Aleshina because her companies are more successful than his client Katsimberis. But Biti said his client was richer than the complainant’s firm.
“You hate her personally because you know all their land papers are above board. Your clients have lost all superior court applications against West Properties including criminal cases here at the magistrates court and that is why you hate her,” Reza said.
But Biti denied the charge, saying he was a leader in the Anglican church and his religion does not allow him to hate someone.
Tafara Chirambira who was assisting Reza accused Biti of delaying prosecution of the matter through several court applications.
Chirambira took Biti to task over the definition of verbal assault after the latter claimed that the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act had done away with the charge of assault by gesture.
He, however, failed to explain how he wanted the court to arrive at such a decision after Chirambira highlighted that Section 89(1)(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act criminalizes threats whether by words or gestures, to assault another person, intending to inspire, or realising that there is a real risk or possibility of inspiring, in the mind of the person threatened a reasonable fear or belief that force will immediately be used against him or her.
The matter was postponed to January 19 for the continuation of defence trial. During the previous sitting, Reza told the court that Biti had planned to attack Aleshina because he was bitter after losing an important High Court matter on the day.
