via ‘Anti-Mugabe’ pastor gets bail – DailyNews Live 17 December 2015
HARARE – The Remnant Church pastor, who was arrested for allegedly staging a demonstration denouncing President Robert Mugabe’s 35-year-old rule during the just-ended Zanu PF conference in Victoria Falls, has been freed on $500 bail.
Victoria Falls magistrate Lindiwe Maphosa freed Patrick Phillip Mugadza, 45, on Tuesday.
Mugadza is being accused of contravening Section 46 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23.
This was after he allegedly staged a demonstration in the resort town protesting the manner in which Mugabe was handling the country’s affairs.
The National Prosecuting Authority alleged that Mugadza, who resides in Kariba, disturbed the movement of Zanu PF party supporters who were on their way to attend the ruling party’s annual national people’s conference in the resort town, by waving a banner with a message denouncing Mugabe’s leadership.
Prosecutor Listen Nare told the court that Mugadza committed criminal nuisance by waving a banner, which read “Mr President the people are suffering”.
The banner also quoted Proverbs 21:13 from the Bible, which reads, “Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered”.
The prosecutor charged that Mugadza acted unlawfully because his actions disturbed the movement of members of the public.
Mugadza, who first appeared at Victoria Falls Magistrates’ Courts on Saturday December 12 and was briefly freed on summons, returned to court on Monday and was remanded in custody to Tuesday when he was eventually granted bail.
His lawyer Thulani Nkala of Dube and Company Legal Practitioners and a member of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights is challenging the State’s allegations, arguing that the pastor had not committed an offence.
The lawyer argued that his client was exercising his constitutional right as guaranteed under Section 59 of the Constitution which provides for “freedom to demonstrate and petition”.
Magadza’s trial has been set for January 5, 2016.
COMMENTS
Rapists and murderers get bail of around $100-$200. Policemen caught taking bribes get bail of $50. So what kind if magistrate is this, bailing someone $500 for walking with a stick? How about walking with a suitcase? That should be worth $1000 bail.
Figures.
After all, its ZANUland we talking about here.
I pray to the Mighty and Everlasting God that he lifts up a standard against all your (Pastor Mugadza) adversaries and the Lord knows all of them. Amen
Why don’t Zimbabweans ‘lift up a standard’ themselves, instead of expecting someone else to do it for them all the time? Didn’t the almighty and everlasting God say “God helps those who help themselves”?
So stop looking for the eternal hand-out and strike down the adversaries yourself. Amen.
Hey Joe,Please can you give me the book chapter and verse of the Bible where God says “God helps those who help themselves”?
“God helps those who help themselves” is probably the most often quoted phrase that is NOT found in the Bible. This saying is usually attributed to Benjamin Franklin. That saying would oppose the commandment “Thou shalt NOT steal”
I do however agree with you about Zimbabweans standing up like the Brother who found himself under arrest to whom I doff my hat but people in Zimbabwe are living in fear which is very much a weapon of satan and has been used by zanupf very cunningly BUT the time is at hand and the Lord is starting to bring change in this country and the FEAR of GOD will be brought on the present administration. Watch carefully.
Hi Reverend, I defer to you on the source of the quotation, as I’m an aethiest and no expert on the Bible. The meaning however, is not that God helps those who help themselves to other’s property, but that God assists those who make an effort on their own behalf.
Yes, the people are living in fear, and there is a network of State-fostered treachery, but despite that, this administration has very little real support and genuine determined passive resistance could bring it down without major trauma to citizens or the need for Divine Intervention. The main stumbling block in this country is selfishness.
Oooo Joe, I am so sad to hear that you are an atheist! I will be praying for you and hope you keep an open mind on things above and below.
I appreciate your ability and character not to be hostile to a person of faith and that you summarily hit the proverbial nail on the head when you talk about selfishness, which in fact is greed and dwells in the heart of every man,and unfortunately the blindness to the greater evil of greed was not considered a problem in the early years of Zimbabwe, and when Ian Smith pointed out Mugabe’s error of corruption in the early years it did not ring a bell in the heads of the majority as they were still drunk from victory and this allowed the headship of zanupf to set up their plan and to hold the nation in a bondage of fear and I believe the hard shell of the restrictive cocoon of fear is breaking down and the new and beautiful butterfly will emerge! But still some pulling and tugging required.By the way Divine intervention is always needed. Be Blessed!
It is because of faith that Zim finds themselves in this position.Open your eyes to the truth and realise there is no God just us. WE ALL WE GOT!
There are probably more so-called pastors than there are doctors in this country – all fornicating with the congregation’s wives, and stealing their money at the same time. About time that selling religion was regulated like selling liquor.
Semantics aside, a man of the cloth has been arrested for speaking out against a repressive regime.
Lets not take our eyes off that one.
@ Reverend
I am so sad that that you believe in a religion brout to you from out side africa.Go home were your grand parents are buried and apologies to all VADZIMI vako.
Actually jo all my grand parents are buried right here in Zimbabwe.So I guess I’m in the right place eh?! Have prayed for you.