MDC-Alliance principal Tendai Biti’s attempt to have Harare
Magistrate Mr Francis Mapfumo’s ruling denying the temporary release of his
passport overturned, failed at the High Court yesterday.
Mr Mapfumo dismissed Biti’s application for the release of
his passport on September 26 on the basis that he is a flight risk since he was
arrested while attempting to flee the country.
High Court judge Justice Erica Ndewera, who dismissed
Biti’s latest application, said he was in agreement with Mr Mapfumo’s judgment.
He, however, ruled that Biti will be removed from remand
and given his passport back if he is not given a trial date on his next remand
hearing.
Biti, through his lawyers — Ms Beatrice Mtetwa, Messrs Alec
Muchadehama, Harrison Nkomo, Gift Mtisi and Denford Halimani — made an
application for the release of his passport from September 26 to October 23 for
him to attend counselling sessions for post-traumatic disorder in South Africa
and a conference organised by Pan-African lawyers’ Union in Tunisia.
The State, represented by Mr Michael Reza, opposed the
application, stating that there was no need for him to go for treatment in
South Africa because he was invited for medical treatment yet he had not
indicated that he was not well.
Biti is facing charges of inciting violence and
contravening Section 66A (1) of the Electoral Act Chapter 2:13, which prohibits
the unofficial or false declaration of election results.
He is alleged to have unlawfully declared opposition party
leader Mr Nelson Chamisa as the winner in the presidential elections held on
July 30. Herald
0 comments:
Post a Comment