News / National
High Court judges quashes the conviction of Chipinge South MP
03 Feb 2012 at 13:59hrs | Views
High Court judges Justice Susan Mavangira and Justice Charles Hungwe have quashed the conviction of Chipinge South MP, Meki Makuyana who was charged with kidnapping two Zanu-PF activists in July 2009.
Makuyana was jailed for 18 months in prison by the late Chipinge magistrate Samuel Zuze. After the conviction, Makuyana was subsequently suspended from Parliament.
The MP was convicted of kidnapping Joseph Dhliwayo and Simon Kumbula in Chipinge South. Three other MDC-T activists, Simon Chaya, Wedzerai Gwenzi and Hardwork Masaiti who is the councillor for Ward 26, were jointly charged with the legislator.
However, this week High Court judges, Justice Susan Mavangira and Justice Charles Hungwe ruled the convictions "unsafe" and thereby vindicated the MP's claims that Magistrate Zuze had been biased in his judgment.
The judges said the trial magistrate had erred on a number of issues and that the record of proceedings was in shambles. There were many facts missing from the court records relating to the case that it cast doubts on the outcome of the trial proceedings.
What the magistrate wanted was just a conviction and in the end, he did not do his work properly. Makuyana is set to resume his parliamentary duties once the High Court verdict is sent to Parliament.
MDC-T welcomes the High Court's decision and said the 2009 conviction of Makuyana is a case of persecution not prosecution.
Makuyana was jailed for 18 months in prison by the late Chipinge magistrate Samuel Zuze. After the conviction, Makuyana was subsequently suspended from Parliament.
The MP was convicted of kidnapping Joseph Dhliwayo and Simon Kumbula in Chipinge South. Three other MDC-T activists, Simon Chaya, Wedzerai Gwenzi and Hardwork Masaiti who is the councillor for Ward 26, were jointly charged with the legislator.
However, this week High Court judges, Justice Susan Mavangira and Justice Charles Hungwe ruled the convictions "unsafe" and thereby vindicated the MP's claims that Magistrate Zuze had been biased in his judgment.
The judges said the trial magistrate had erred on a number of issues and that the record of proceedings was in shambles. There were many facts missing from the court records relating to the case that it cast doubts on the outcome of the trial proceedings.
What the magistrate wanted was just a conviction and in the end, he did not do his work properly. Makuyana is set to resume his parliamentary duties once the High Court verdict is sent to Parliament.
MDC-T welcomes the High Court's decision and said the 2009 conviction of Makuyana is a case of persecution not prosecution.
Source - Byo24News
