News / National
Beatrice Mtetwa's request granted by magistrate
21 Oct 2013 at 02:47hrs | Views
A Harare magistrate has granted lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa's request to have an inspection-in-loco at former Prime Minister and MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai's office at 14 Bath Road in Avondale where she is accused of hindering a police search.
The inspection-in-loco will be done this Thursday at 8:30am and this came after law officer from the Attorney General's Office Mr Tawanda Zvekare closed the State case against Mtetwa.
Although Mr Zvekare opposed the request, magistrate Mrs Rumbidzai Mugwagwa ruled that it was fair that number 14 Bath Road be inspected.
She ordered Mr Zvekare to put in place the necessary logistics.
"The defence had always indicated its intentions to establish the exact location of the witnesses on March 17 when the offence was allegedly committed. It is fair to afford them that opportunity," said Mrs Mugwagwa.
Mr Zvekare told the court that State witnesses were available for the inspection-in-loco to be carried out. The last State witness, Brian Mutusva, who was a computer technician in Mr Tsvangirai's office, told the court that he received an instruction from the then chief press officer in the former PM's office Conrad Mwanawashe to move computers from 14 Bath Road to the MDC-T headquarters at Harvest House.
The court heard that Mutusva did not know the reason why the computers were being shifted, although it was normal routine whenever the computers were required for use elsewhere.
"I just receive instructions and I don't ask why", he said.
"I received instructions to the effect that computers should be moved from point A to point B. The computers were received by Ian Makone at Charter House.
"Mtetwa did not have anything to do with the computers' removal from 14 Bath Road and I did not interact with her."
During cross examination by Mtetwa, Mutusva said he could no longer recall the exact time when the computers were moved.
Mtetwa was arrested in March after she allegedly told police officers to stop rummaging through Thabani Mpofu's house who was an official in the former PM's office.
The State alleged that Mtetwa was acting in a violent and disorderly manner and she shouted: "Stop whatever you are doing, it is unconstitutional, illegal and undemocratic".
Mtetwa is alleged to have threatened to send pictures and video footage of the police she had taken with her mobile phone to the international media.
The inspection-in-loco will be done this Thursday at 8:30am and this came after law officer from the Attorney General's Office Mr Tawanda Zvekare closed the State case against Mtetwa.
Although Mr Zvekare opposed the request, magistrate Mrs Rumbidzai Mugwagwa ruled that it was fair that number 14 Bath Road be inspected.
She ordered Mr Zvekare to put in place the necessary logistics.
"The defence had always indicated its intentions to establish the exact location of the witnesses on March 17 when the offence was allegedly committed. It is fair to afford them that opportunity," said Mrs Mugwagwa.
Mr Zvekare told the court that State witnesses were available for the inspection-in-loco to be carried out. The last State witness, Brian Mutusva, who was a computer technician in Mr Tsvangirai's office, told the court that he received an instruction from the then chief press officer in the former PM's office Conrad Mwanawashe to move computers from 14 Bath Road to the MDC-T headquarters at Harvest House.
The court heard that Mutusva did not know the reason why the computers were being shifted, although it was normal routine whenever the computers were required for use elsewhere.
"I received instructions to the effect that computers should be moved from point A to point B. The computers were received by Ian Makone at Charter House.
"Mtetwa did not have anything to do with the computers' removal from 14 Bath Road and I did not interact with her."
During cross examination by Mtetwa, Mutusva said he could no longer recall the exact time when the computers were moved.
Mtetwa was arrested in March after she allegedly told police officers to stop rummaging through Thabani Mpofu's house who was an official in the former PM's office.
The State alleged that Mtetwa was acting in a violent and disorderly manner and she shouted: "Stop whatever you are doing, it is unconstitutional, illegal and undemocratic".
Mtetwa is alleged to have threatened to send pictures and video footage of the police she had taken with her mobile phone to the international media.
Source - herald
