News / National
Mugabe challenger cleared of violating immigration regulations
01 Sep 2017 at 06:38hrs | Views
UNITED Kingdom-based Zimbabwean opposition leader, Innocent Ndibali, was yesterday acquitted on charges of violating immigration regulations when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate, Sithembiso Ndlovu.
Ndibali, who leads the Zimbabwe Economic Freedom Fighters (ZEFF), was arrested on August 19 at the Bulawayo Media Centre, shortly after addressing a Press conference and charged with using a British passport to enter the country.
Police said by addressing journalists, Ndibali violated the conditions on his visa, which barred him from engaging in political activities while in the country.
However, Ndibali was freed at the close of the State case after his lawyer, Jabulani Mhlanga argued that there was no evidence to sustain the charge.
"The State outline does not establish facts linking the accused person to the alleged offence.
"The State witnesses failed to pinpoint the exact part of the visa, which states that my client has violated conditions of his holiday visa," he argued.
It was the State's case that on August 11 this year, Ndibali entered the country through the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport in Bulawayo and was issued with a 14-day holiday visa.
On August 18, Ndibali addressed a Press conference at a city hotel to market his party's manifesto, leading to his arrest.
Ndibali, who leads the Zimbabwe Economic Freedom Fighters (ZEFF), was arrested on August 19 at the Bulawayo Media Centre, shortly after addressing a Press conference and charged with using a British passport to enter the country.
Police said by addressing journalists, Ndibali violated the conditions on his visa, which barred him from engaging in political activities while in the country.
However, Ndibali was freed at the close of the State case after his lawyer, Jabulani Mhlanga argued that there was no evidence to sustain the charge.
"The State witnesses failed to pinpoint the exact part of the visa, which states that my client has violated conditions of his holiday visa," he argued.
It was the State's case that on August 11 this year, Ndibali entered the country through the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport in Bulawayo and was issued with a 14-day holiday visa.
On August 18, Ndibali addressed a Press conference at a city hotel to market his party's manifesto, leading to his arrest.
Source - newsday
