Zimbabwe activist's charge sheet to be altered

FORMER Highfield MP Munyaradzi Gwisai and five others who are facing treason charges are likely to have the charges altered to a lesser crime.

Yesterday the State indicated that the trial of Gwisai, Antonetar Choto, Tatenda Mombeyarara, Edison Chakuma, Hopewell Gumbo and Welcome Zimuto - would be held before a regional magistrate on July 18 this year.

The magistrate court, however, has no jurisdiction to preside over treason trials, which means the charges might be altered to a lesser offence.

The six were arrested in February this year on allegations of convening a meeting for the purpose of mobilising Zimbabweans to unconstitutionally overthrow the Government.

They were charged with treason, which attracts death penalty upon conviction.

They obtained bail from the High Court.
 
Harare magistrate Mr Don Ndirowei presided over yesterday's proceedings and deferred the case to July 18.
 
Mr Edmore Nyazamba from the Attorney General's Office had informed the court that the trial date for the six had been set for July 18 in court 18 before a regional magistrate.

He requested for the six to be remanded to that date. Mr Marufu Mandevere of Mbidzo, Muchadehama and Makoni appeared for the six and unsuccessfully applied to have the case deferred to next week for them to make an application for refusal of remand and variation of bail conditions.

However, Mr Ndirowei said there would be no prejudice to any party as they could make such application at any time. After the court adjourned, Mr Mandevere told journalists that he was not sure if the trial will commence on the given date since the regional court has no jurisdiction to preside over treason matters.

He said the State was likely to charge his clients with a lesser offence. Gwisai, the International Socialist Organisation (ISO) co-ordinator and the five others activists allegedly organised an Egypt-style uprising against government.

The state alleged last February Gwisai called for a meeting at number 43 Julius Nyerere Way in Harare, where participants were drawn from all over the country.

It is alleged entry into the meeting was strictly by invitation and participants, though invited, were subjected to thorough vetting before being allowed into a room which was constantly kept under lock and key.

It is further alleged that during the meeting there was a list of speakers and a mission statement for the organisation, which read "ISO calls on workers, students and working people to support the struggle in solidarity with Egyptian and Tunisian workers".

Gwisai, together with Choto and Mombeyarara, allegedly roped in Chakuma, Gumbo and Zimuto as speakers substituting those that did not attend.

It is alleged that during the meeting, the speakers took turns to address the gathering allegedly stating that in Zimbabwe, there was a long-ruling authoritarian leadership, general hunger, poverty, unemployment and capitalist practices where wealth was enjoyed by a few individuals while the general populace was suffering.

The State says the participants were encouraged to revolt against the government but police foiled their plans.