The trial of Evan Mawarire of the group #ThisFlag
campaign and Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Peter Gift
Mutasa yesterday hit a brick wall after the prosecution indicated it had
erroneously referred the case to the Regional Court.
Mawarire and Mutasa are facing charges of subverting a
constitutionally elected Government or alternatively inciting public violence.
During their previous appearance, the State told the court
that it would be ready for trial on June 24 and 25.
The State, led by Mr Ephraim Zinyandu, yesterday sought
further postponement to August pending finalisation of the duo’s indictment to
the High Court.
“This matter was erroneously remanded to the Regional Court
for trial today, yet cases of this nature are heard at the High Court,” he
said.
Mr Zinyandu asked the court to refer the matter back to the
remand court while they await indictment.
Through their lawyers, Mr Terrence Bhatasara and Mr Alec
Muchadehama, Mawarire and Mutasa opposed application for a postponement.
“The State had two months from April 25 to prepare
indictment papers. It is not competent for a matter that has been set down for
trial to go back to remand court,” Mr Bhatasara said, before applying that the
duo be removed from remand as the State failed to reasonably justify another
postponement.
In response, Mr Zinyandu said there was no undue delay in
prosecuting the duo which warranted removal from remand.
“It will be premature for the court to remove the accused
from remand,” Mr Zinyandu said.
Harare regional magistrate Mrs Jessie Kufa rolled over the
matter to today for ruling.
Meanwhile, in a separate case, the State yesterday made an
application for the revocation of Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe
(ARTUZ) president Obert Masaraure’s bail after he allegedly breached its
reporting conditions.
Masaraure was last week issued with a warrant of arrest by
Harare magistrate Mrs Barbra Mateko for absconding court.
In strengthening its application, the State called
Assistant Inspector Farai Chabata to the witness stand, who indicated that
Masaraure breached his reporting conditions after he failed to report to the
police on June 14.
He said on the day in question, he had given instructions
to his junior officers to inform him if Masaraure came to the police station to
report, but this was never done, meaning he did not report.
The State called the deputy headmaster of Chemhanza High
School, Mr Taurai Mararike, who told the court that he last saw Masaraure at
the school premises on May 24.
Masaraure told the court that he reported at Hwedza Police
Station on the day in question, but could not sign the relevant forms since he
was told they were locked in the officer-in-charge’s office.
He further stated that he left the police station without
signing the documents because he was rushing to Robert Gabriel Mugabe
International Airport to catch a plane.
Mrs Mateko deferred the matter to today for ruling. Herald
0 comments:
Post a Comment