via MDC-T activists discharge application postponed again | The Zimbabwean by Edgar Gweshe 17.09.13
High Court Judge, Justice Chinembiri Bhunu, has postponed judgement in an application for discharge by MDC-T members accused for murdering a police officer in 2011 to Thursday.
The defense counsel for the 28 MDC-T activists filed the application at the close of the State case and, on June 12, Justice Bhunu indefinitely reserved judgement on the matter.
Defense lawyer, Gift Mtisi, confirmed today’s postponement.
“The case has been moved to Thursday. We were informed by Justice Bhunu’s Clerk that the Judge had moved the case to Thursday when he is expected to deliver judgement concerning our application,” said Mtisi.
He however said they were not given reasons for the postponement but said that the Judge could be attending today’s official opening of Parliament.
In their application, the defense counsel for the MDC-T activists argues that the State had failed to prove a prima facie case against their clients and hence they should be set free.
The activists were arrested in 2011 and charged with contravening Section 47 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23 for allegedly murdering Inspector Petros Mutedza at a bar in Glen View suburb, Harare.
They were charged with committing public violence in contravention of Section 36 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23 as well.
The State alleges that the activists were violent and threw missiles at the police, resulting in the Mutedza’s death.
COMMENTS
The endless delays in the case of the MDC 29 is a severe indictment of the Zimbabwean justice system and the judiciary in particular. The endless postponements by the presiding judge, the indefinite reservation of judgement, these give no confidence that the accused are receiving justice.
The Minister of Justice must provide a new paradigm so that justice may be seen as being fair, impartial and swift in Zimbabwe.