Gukurahundi critic could be set free next week

A STATE prosecutor in the trial of Co-minister in the Organ of National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration  Moses Mzila Ndlovu in Hwange on Tuesday almost conceded that the minister has no case to answer.

Mzila-Ndlovu is in court over alleged offensive Gukurahundi remarks made at a public meeting in Lupane last year.

A former freedom fighter, Mzila-Ndlovu is an outspoken critic of President Robert Mugabe and his Gukurahundi campaign in Matabeleland and Midlands in the early 1980s.

More than 20 000 civillians died in the operation and government has never endorsed debate on the issue.

The prosecutor, Khumbulani Ndlovu said he was "handicapped because of the facts and the circumstances" of the case before the courts.

Said Ndlovu, "Nothing arising at law, and in light of the facts and circumstances of the case before the court, the state counsel finds itself handicapped to respond to the application for reasons of conscience. It is the state's duty not to mislead the court and I stand guided by the honourable court's decision. That will be all I can say."

The magistrate, Collet Ncube postponed the matter to May 15 so that he would prepare his ruling.

The three witnesses who testified in April were the arresting officer detective constable Maxwell Moyo of Lupane Law and Order, Liberty Manzini of Lupane Police Internal Security Intelligence (PISI) and a villager, Melusi Tshuma.

Mzila Ndlovu pleaded not guilty.

Roman Catholic priest Marko Mnkandla who convened the meeting where Mzila Ndlovu is alleged to have uttered the statements subject to the charge was two weeks ago removed from remand by another Hwange provincial magistrate rose Dube after the state failed to provide witnesses.

Mnkandla was facing charges of convening an unsanctioned meeting and possessing pornographic material.