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Violence, recrimination and arrests after policeman's death in Glen View - Index of articles
State on fishing expedition as charges against MDC members crumble
Movement
for Democratic Change (MDC)
March
15, 2012
The High Court
bail application for the 29 MDC members who are being falsely
charged of murder and public violence has been postponed to
tomorrow after Justice Chinembiri Bhunu said he was not feeling
well to continue with the matter.
The hearing
started this morning with the defence giving its submissions and
the matter was scheduled to resume in the afternoon with the State
giving its response but the matter was cancelled due to the non-availability
of the judge.
During their
submissions in the morning, the defence lawyers accused the State
of going on a "fishing expedition" as it has no solid
evidence against the accused.
The defence
lawyers said when the accused were arrested last year, they were
charged with murdering a police officer in Glen View, Harare. However,
when they were indicted early this month, the State proffered new
charges of public violence.
"As far
as the defence is concerned, the State case is weaker as defined
by a new charge - on initial remand they were only charged
for murder - but now through indictment, the State has proffered
public violence charges," said defence lawyer, Charles Kwaramba.
"In the
minds of the accused the State is on a fishing expedition. We believe
it is a climb down on the part of the State. It does not have solid
evidence on the matter and as a result the accused are proper candidates
for bail," said Kwaramba.
Another defence
lawyer, Gift Mtisi said the State case was collapsing "like
a deck of cards."
"The State
had ample time to investigate but there is no single witness who
positively identifies the appellants. The AG (Attorney General)
has failed to put facts which strengthen the State case. They are
limping and have proffered another charge, which is of public violence,"
said Mtisi.
After the defence
lawyers' submissions, State prosecutor, Edmore Nyazamba made
an undertaking to make a response in the afternoon but the matter
was later postponed to tomorrow.
Hundreds of
MDC officials, members, the relatives and friends of the accused,
packed Court A where the matter is being held.
Among the senior
MDC officials who attended today's hearing were, Hon. Tendai
Biti, the party's Secretary-General and his deputy, Hon. Tapiwa
Mashakada, the Deputy Treasurer-General, Hon. Elton Mangoma, the
Minister of Housing and Social Amenities, Hon. Giles Mutsekwa and
Harare provincial chairperson, Hon. Paul Madzore.
Those accused
for the false murder charge and public violence charges are; Solomon
Madzore, the MDC Youth Assembly chairperson, Last Maengahama, a
National Executive Committee member, Councillor Oddrey Sydney Chirombe
of Ward 33, Budiriro, Councillor, Tungamirai Madzokere of Ward 32,
Glen View, Cynthia Manjoro, Lloyd Chitanda, Stanford Mangwiro and
Tendai Chinyama.
The others are;
Jefias Moyo, Abina Rutsito, Gabriel Shumba, Stephen Takaedzwa, Linda
Madyamhanje, Tafadzwa Billiard, Simon Mudimu, Dube Zwelibanzi, Simon
Mapanzure, Augustine Tengenyika and Gapara Nyamadzawo, Paul Rukanda,
Lazarus and Stanford Maengahama, Kerina Dewa and Memory Ncube, Rebecca
Mafukeni, Yvonne Musarurwa, Phineas Nhatarikwa and Stanford Mangwiro.
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