TWELVE Mashonaland West Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) officials arrested last year at the party's Chinhoyi offices while holding a meeting have been acquitted. Authorities claimed the meeting contravened Covid-19 lockdown regulations. The 12 are part of the party's Mashonaland West provincial administrative committee (PAC). The officials are; provincial chairman Ralph Magunje (50), Tawanda Bvumo…
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NewZimbabwe.com – The Zimbabwe News You Trust is Zimbabwe’s leading online newspaper and published by New Zimbabwe Media Ltd. The platform brings you the latest breaking News, Business, Showbiz, Sports, Diaspora and gives you everything you’ve come to expect and love.
By James Muonwa, Mashonaland West Correspondent
THE trial of 12 MDC Alliance officials arrested February this year at the party’s Chinhoyi offices during a meeting police claim was in defiance of Covid-19 lockdown regulations, was Tuesday deferred due to the absence of a key state witness.
The court heard the state had failed to summon an unidentified chief witness to testify in the matter.
The matter was remanded to 6 May when trial is expected to start.
MDC Alliance Mashonaland West chairman, Raphael Magunje, who is among the accused persons, confirmed the deferment.
“The trial could not proceed as the state had not called its key witness on time. Therefore, the matter was further moved and we will be back in court on 6 May for the start of trial,” said Magunje.
By James Muonwa, Mashonaland West Correspondent
THE trial of 12 Mashonaland West MDC Alliance officials is expected to kick off on 13 April.
The officials were arrested last month at the party’s Chinhoyi offices while holding a meeting which authorities say was in defiance of Covid-19 lockdown regulations.
The dozen activists will have their day in court after magistrate Lisa Mutendereki Wednesday threw out their application for refusal of further remand arguing there was a prima facie case against them.
At their previous appearance, the 12, through their lawyer Fortune Murisi, had argued they did not commit any offence and described their arrests as unlawful.