News / National
MDC 99 leader warned
27 Feb 2012 at 05:55hrs | Views
MDC 99 leader and St Mary's legislator Job Sikhala was last week warned against making applications which offend the courts. Sikhala is facing allegations of contravening sections of the Immigration Act after allegedly making arrangements for a South African woman to come to Harare without necessary documentation.
Magistrate Ms Anita Tshuma made the remarks after Sikhala made an application for the magistrate to recuse herself buttressing his application with statements the magistrate said were not uttered in court.
Ms Tshuma told Sikhala's lawyer Mr Augustine Chikazani: "You should tactically and respectfully make your application lest you offend the court because some of these utterances were not made in the first place as alleged. There is no confirmation to indicate that such utterances were made by the court."
Through his lawyer, Sikhala claimed that the magistrate did not record when he was cross-examining a State witness. He alleged that the magistrate made objections without explaining herself and she did not entertain his application for postponement after his lawyer failed to turn up to court.
The State says sometime in July last year, Sharon Bester was brought from South Africa by Sikhala, Aaron Muzungu and Okkie Volschenck, a South African national. They allegedly assisted her to enter the country through Beitbridge Border Post and she stayed at Sikhala's home in Chitungwiza until the time of her arrest.
Sikhala is accused of contravening section 36 (1) (C) of the Immigration Act Chapter 4:02 when he allegedly assisted Bester to enter the country illegally. Sikhala was arrested on New Year's Eve.
Magistrate Ms Anita Tshuma made the remarks after Sikhala made an application for the magistrate to recuse herself buttressing his application with statements the magistrate said were not uttered in court.
Ms Tshuma told Sikhala's lawyer Mr Augustine Chikazani: "You should tactically and respectfully make your application lest you offend the court because some of these utterances were not made in the first place as alleged. There is no confirmation to indicate that such utterances were made by the court."
Through his lawyer, Sikhala claimed that the magistrate did not record when he was cross-examining a State witness. He alleged that the magistrate made objections without explaining herself and she did not entertain his application for postponement after his lawyer failed to turn up to court.
The State says sometime in July last year, Sharon Bester was brought from South Africa by Sikhala, Aaron Muzungu and Okkie Volschenck, a South African national. They allegedly assisted her to enter the country through Beitbridge Border Post and she stayed at Sikhala's home in Chitungwiza until the time of her arrest.
Sikhala is accused of contravening section 36 (1) (C) of the Immigration Act Chapter 4:02 when he allegedly assisted Bester to enter the country illegally. Sikhala was arrested on New Year's Eve.
Source - th
