Judge recuses himself from Kereke rape case

High Court judge Justice Tawanda Chitapi has recused himself for handling jailed former Bikita West legislator Munyaradzi Kereke's application for bail pending appeal due to professional reasons.

Pronouncing his decision to recuse himself, Justice Chitapi said he is not able to deal with the matter because he was once Kereke's legal counsel and his firm represented Kereke in the criminal matter up until the state declined prosecution.

He added that he once interacted with the appellant while he was the legal representative for the central bank where Kereke was the advisor to the RBZ Governor.

Justice Chitapi also said he was at one time a co-director with Kereke in two companies and ruled that it would not be proper in the circumstances to preside over the matter.

The matter has since been allocated to Justice Owen Tagu and set down for hearing for Tuesday next week the 6th of December 2016.