News / National
Mamombe trial moved to January
14 Dec 2021 at 05:45hrs | Views
MDC-Alliance members, Joana Mamombe and Cecilia Chimbiri, yesterday failed to appear in court for their hearing on allegations of faking their abductions sometime in May last year, after they both allgedly tested positive to Covid-19.
Their lawyer, Mr Alec Muchadehama yesterday applied for the postponement of the matter to the first week of January, saying he hoped the two would have recovered.
Mr Muchadehama told the court that Mamombe was in the court's car park, but because of her condition, he did not allow her to interact with people.
He then presented the Covid-19 test result certificates for Mamombe and Chimbiri to acting Chief Magistrate, Mrs Faith Mushure.
The State led by Mrs Tinashe Makiya did not oppose the application.
She confirmed seeing Mamombe seated in her car in the court's car park and told the court that she was showing signs of discomfort.
Mrs Mushure set the matter to December 29. Allegations facing Mamombe and Chimbiri are that on May 13 at around 12.30pm, in the company of Netsai Marova, who is on the run, went to gather at Choppies Supermarket in Warren Park 1, Harare, with other MDC-Alliance youths.
It is said that they then later staged a demonstration against the recalling of their MPs from Parliament and the alleged misuse of the Covid-19 pandemic funds.
On the same day, they allegedly called their friends, family and lawyers, saying they had been arrested at a roadblock near the Exhibition Park in the capital and were taken to Harare Central Police Station.
Upon receiving the communication, their lawyer Mr Jeremiah Bamu reportedly went to the police CID Law and Order. Mr Bamu is alleged to have approached a senior officer saying Mamombe, Chimbiri and Marova had been arrested and taken to Harare Central Police Station.
According to the State, checks were made and it was established that they were not arrested.
On the same day, social media platforms and local newspapers were awash with news that the three had been arrested, it is alleged.
Two days later, on May 15 at around 1am, Mr Bamu advised the police that the three were at Muchapondwa Business Centre in Bindura.
The police and Mr Bamu went to the business centre, collected them and took them to a hospital in Waterfalls, Harare, since they claimed to have been tortured.
Their lawyer, Mr Alec Muchadehama yesterday applied for the postponement of the matter to the first week of January, saying he hoped the two would have recovered.
Mr Muchadehama told the court that Mamombe was in the court's car park, but because of her condition, he did not allow her to interact with people.
He then presented the Covid-19 test result certificates for Mamombe and Chimbiri to acting Chief Magistrate, Mrs Faith Mushure.
The State led by Mrs Tinashe Makiya did not oppose the application.
She confirmed seeing Mamombe seated in her car in the court's car park and told the court that she was showing signs of discomfort.
Mrs Mushure set the matter to December 29. Allegations facing Mamombe and Chimbiri are that on May 13 at around 12.30pm, in the company of Netsai Marova, who is on the run, went to gather at Choppies Supermarket in Warren Park 1, Harare, with other MDC-Alliance youths.
It is said that they then later staged a demonstration against the recalling of their MPs from Parliament and the alleged misuse of the Covid-19 pandemic funds.
On the same day, they allegedly called their friends, family and lawyers, saying they had been arrested at a roadblock near the Exhibition Park in the capital and were taken to Harare Central Police Station.
Upon receiving the communication, their lawyer Mr Jeremiah Bamu reportedly went to the police CID Law and Order. Mr Bamu is alleged to have approached a senior officer saying Mamombe, Chimbiri and Marova had been arrested and taken to Harare Central Police Station.
According to the State, checks were made and it was established that they were not arrested.
On the same day, social media platforms and local newspapers were awash with news that the three had been arrested, it is alleged.
Two days later, on May 15 at around 1am, Mr Bamu advised the police that the three were at Muchapondwa Business Centre in Bindura.
The police and Mr Bamu went to the business centre, collected them and took them to a hospital in Waterfalls, Harare, since they claimed to have been tortured.
Source - The Herald
