A former Zimbabwean Finance Minister was on Monday convicted for verbally assaulting a Russian businesswoman in a 2020 incident.
According to local media, Tendai Biti, an opposition figure and lawyer was found guilty in a trial where he contested the charges, claiming they didn’t constitute a criminal offense.
The conviction stemmed from an altercation at Harare Magistrates Court, where Biti and Tatiana Aleshina, embroiled in a property dispute with one of Biti’s clients, exchanged heated words.
The magistrate emphasized that allowing individuals to hurl insults without consequences was unacceptable, citing Biti’s use of derogatory language towards Aleshina.
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Despite denying any physical altercation, Biti admitted to calling Aleshina an “idiot,” but contended there was no physical confrontation.
Aleshina meanwhile had argued that Biti’s verbal assault left her traumatized and humiliated, leading to stress-related health issues and prompting her to seek refuge at the Russian embassy, fearing further harm.
