Mujuru's ally seeks Concourt reprieve

The trial of Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs Minister Martin Dinha hit a snag yesterday after the case was deferred to tomorrow for the High Court to hear a defence application for referral to the Constitutional Court.

Dinha is facing charges of allegedly extorting $60 000 from a white commercial farmer as protection fee against eviction.

Through his lawyer, Advocate Thabani Mpofu, Dinha raises constitutional issues following Justice Happias Zhou's ruling earlier this month declining to postpone the trial until the de-classification of certain State secrets that Dinha wants to use in his defence.

The matter was deferred to enable both the defence and State counsel to file their heads of argument today ahead of the hearing tomorrow.