Trial of activists who 'torched' a police car fails to kick off

The trial of 20 Tajamuka group members, who are facing public violence charges after they allegedly torched Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation and Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) vehicles during a protest against police brutality, failed to kick off again yesterday.

The Tajamuka members, who include Promise Mkwananzi, Kunashe Muchemwa, Kerina Gweshe Michael Kauzani, who is in hospital, and others, were expected to stand trial, but this was postponed to January 12 next year by Harare provincial magistrate Lazini Ncube.

However, the group's lawyer from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, Tonderai Bhatasara, complained to the court the State was failing to furnish his clients with State papers to enable them to prepare for trial.

Bhatasara said he had been left with no choice, but to consent to the State on the postponement of the matter.

Kauzani was then issued with an administrative warrant of arrest after he failed to appear in court, but Bhatasara submitted the former was bedridden at a local hospital after being attacked by suspected State agents.

National Vendors' Union of Zimbabwe chairperson, Sten Zvorwadza and 13 others, who are facing criminal nuisance charges after protesting against corruption at Harare Town House, appeared at the regional court for trial, but the matter was postponed to January 10, 2017. The matter was previously presided over by provincial magistrate Arnold Maburo, who has since been moved to the regional court.