Harare – Ten war veterans were on Wednesday discharged by a magistrate at the Rotten Raw Magistrates Court, bringing a close to a legal saga that saw them make more than ten court appearances without their trial ever commencing.

Presiding magistrate ruled that it was untenable to keep the accused persons attending court indefinitely when the State, represented by the police, had consistently failed to produce witnesses to testify against them.

The ten accused, Rose Chirenje, Nyarai Chigudu, Kenesia Jera, Geoffrey Chigwerewere, Jacob Masaraure, Edward Mandikutse, Hazvinei Machingura, Dexter Jena, Stephen Chagwiza, and Mapango Mapengo were initially arrested on 17 October 2025.

They were provisionally released from custody on 10 March 2026 but have been compelled to return to the dock on over ten separate occasions since their arrest, waiting for the prosecution to open its case.

However, on Wednesday, 15 July, the magistrate intervened, stating that the court could not continue to waste judicial time and subject the veterans to prolonged legal uncertainty when the prosecution was clearly unprepared.

“I cannot continue to keep the ten war veterans coming to court for too long since no one is coming to testify against them,” the magistrate ruled.

The court subsequently pronounced the veterans discharged. However, the magistrate clarified that the discharge does not amount to an acquittal on the merits. Should the State raise a new issue or manage to gather its witnesses, the matter may be pursued by way of summons if there is need.

The ruling was met with jubilation from the veterans and their supporters, who thronged the courtroom to congratulate the ten on finally being freed from the protracted legal limbo.