News / National
MDC-T's Chamisa's court case deferred
14 Apr 2011 at 04:48hrs | Views
The Harare magistrates' court has deferred to May 12 the case in which Information Communication Technology Minister Nelson Chamisa is being charged with reckless driving.
Chamisa seeks to make an application to have his case referred to the Supreme Court.
He turned up at court on April 7 but the matter was not heard because magistrates' countrywide had gone on strike.
The minister has since been summoned to appear in court on May 12. He is likely to make his application on that date. The last time Chamisa appeared in court, his lawyer, Mr Chris Mhike of Atherstone and Cook, argued that bringing his client to court two years after the incident took place was politically motivated.
"It was an inordinate delay on the part of the State in instituting the prosecution for an accident that happened two years ago. It is certainly out of the ordinary.
"Judging by the manner the papers were furnished in the State outline, this is a rushed prosecution," said Mr Mhike.
Prosecutor Mr Nathaniel Chigoro alleges that Chamisa caused an accident in January 2009 along Sam Nujoma Street due to negligence causing "minor damages" to two vehicles.
It is alleged that on January 16, 2009 at about 1:10pm all three parties in question were travelling north along Sam Nujoma Street in the same lane.
The first and second parties reduced speed at the intersection of Natal Road and Sam Nujoma Street as there was a vehicle ahead turning right.
Chamisa, it is alleged, hit the first car from the rear and due to the impact that vehicle hit the one in front of it.
Chamisa seeks to make an application to have his case referred to the Supreme Court.
He turned up at court on April 7 but the matter was not heard because magistrates' countrywide had gone on strike.
The minister has since been summoned to appear in court on May 12. He is likely to make his application on that date. The last time Chamisa appeared in court, his lawyer, Mr Chris Mhike of Atherstone and Cook, argued that bringing his client to court two years after the incident took place was politically motivated.
"It was an inordinate delay on the part of the State in instituting the prosecution for an accident that happened two years ago. It is certainly out of the ordinary.
"Judging by the manner the papers were furnished in the State outline, this is a rushed prosecution," said Mr Mhike.
Prosecutor Mr Nathaniel Chigoro alleges that Chamisa caused an accident in January 2009 along Sam Nujoma Street due to negligence causing "minor damages" to two vehicles.
It is alleged that on January 16, 2009 at about 1:10pm all three parties in question were travelling north along Sam Nujoma Street in the same lane.
The first and second parties reduced speed at the intersection of Natal Road and Sam Nujoma Street as there was a vehicle ahead turning right.
Chamisa, it is alleged, hit the first car from the rear and due to the impact that vehicle hit the one in front of it.
Source - Byo24News
