News / National
Gwisai and Activists' Trial Postponed to Wednesday
22 Aug 2011 at 17:39hrs | Views
The trial of Munyaradzi Gwisai and five other social, economic justice and human rights activists, accused of plotting to topple President Robert Mugabe using "Egyptian style" revolts, was on Monday 22 August 2011 postponed to Wednesday 24 August 2011.
The activists' trial was scheduled to commence on Monday 22 August 2011 at the Harare Regional Court. But it was postponed to Wednesday 24 August 2011 because no Magistrate had been assigned to preside over the trial and replace Regional Magistrate Morgan Nemadire, who recused himself from presiding over the trial as he is known of one of the activists.
The trial has now been tentatively set for Wednesday 24 August 2011 for possible commencement.
This is the second time that the trial has been deferred after the initial postponement on Monday 18 July 2011.
The activists namely Gwisai, anti-debt campaigner Hopewell Gumbo, Antonater Choto, the director of the Zimbabwe Labour Centre, student leader Welcome Zimuto, Eddson Chakuma and Tatenda Mombeyarara who were initially charged with committing treason upon their arrest in February are now facing a revised charge of contravening Section 36 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act for allegedly conspiring to commit public violence and three other alternative charges.
Gwisai, Gumbo, Choto, Zimuto, Chakuma and Mombeyarara face alternative charges of contravening section 187 as read with section 36 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act for allegedly inciting public violence, contravening section 37 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act for allegedly participating in a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breaches of peace or bigotry and contravening section 37 (1) (c) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act for allegedly participating in a gathering with intent to promote violence, breaches of peace or bigotry.
Gwisai and the five social justice and human rights activists were arrested on Saturday 19 February 2011 together with 39 other activists during a constitutional and democracy lecture held in Harare. Harare Magistrate Munamato Mutevedzi freed 39 of the activists.
Prosecutor Edmore Nyazamba alleges that the activists delivered speeches during the lecture encouraging participants to mobilize Zimbabweans to revolt against President Mugabe and his government.
The activists' trial was scheduled to commence on Monday 22 August 2011 at the Harare Regional Court. But it was postponed to Wednesday 24 August 2011 because no Magistrate had been assigned to preside over the trial and replace Regional Magistrate Morgan Nemadire, who recused himself from presiding over the trial as he is known of one of the activists.
The trial has now been tentatively set for Wednesday 24 August 2011 for possible commencement.
This is the second time that the trial has been deferred after the initial postponement on Monday 18 July 2011.
The activists namely Gwisai, anti-debt campaigner Hopewell Gumbo, Antonater Choto, the director of the Zimbabwe Labour Centre, student leader Welcome Zimuto, Eddson Chakuma and Tatenda Mombeyarara who were initially charged with committing treason upon their arrest in February are now facing a revised charge of contravening Section 36 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act for allegedly conspiring to commit public violence and three other alternative charges.
Gwisai, Gumbo, Choto, Zimuto, Chakuma and Mombeyarara face alternative charges of contravening section 187 as read with section 36 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act for allegedly inciting public violence, contravening section 37 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act for allegedly participating in a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breaches of peace or bigotry and contravening section 37 (1) (c) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act for allegedly participating in a gathering with intent to promote violence, breaches of peace or bigotry.
Gwisai and the five social justice and human rights activists were arrested on Saturday 19 February 2011 together with 39 other activists during a constitutional and democracy lecture held in Harare. Harare Magistrate Munamato Mutevedzi freed 39 of the activists.
Prosecutor Edmore Nyazamba alleges that the activists delivered speeches during the lecture encouraging participants to mobilize Zimbabweans to revolt against President Mugabe and his government.
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