Harare Magistrate Denies Bail to Woman Accused of Threatening Businessman

By Cimba Shepherd Nhamo

A Harare magistrate, Mr. Dennis Mangosi, has denied bail to Elizabeth Parerenyatwa Mucheche, who is facing allegations of threatening to kill a businessman. The businessman, Brian Murphy, is the complainant in Mucheche’s perjury case.

Mucheche’s bail application was opposed by the arresting officer, Detective Inspector Evidence Hanya, who stated that she was not a proper candidate for bail due to her history of resisting arrest. According to Inspector Hanya, Mucheche lied about being out of the country when invited to Highlands Police Station and was only apprehended after a tip-off led authorities to her location at CID Commercial Crimes Division in Harare.

Inspector Hanya further alleged that Mucheche resisted arrest, overpowering a female officer before being escorted to the police station with the help of members of the public. The inspector expressed concerns that Mucheche would likely interfere with witnesses if granted bail, citing her threat to kill the complainant after he reported her for perjury.

In addition to the threat, Mucheche is also accused of generating a fake power of attorney document in October 2022. The document, purportedly signed by Ms. Anne Rhodes, contained incorrect spellings and was signed after Ms. Rhodes’ death, as indicated by her death certificate.

The defence argued that Mucheche was a proper candidate for bail, being a person of fixed abode, and that there was no evidence to prove she was evasive. However, Magistrate Mangosi denied bail, citing the seriousness of the allegations.