News / National
Jacob Ngarivhume's appeal postponed
25 Oct 2023 at 20:58hrs | Views
Justice Benjamin Chikowore has postponed Transform Zimbabwe leader Jacob Ngarivhume's appeal against public violence conviction to 14 November 2023.
It is now over six months since Ngarivhume was sentenced by Magistrate Faresi Chakanyuka to an effective 3 years in prison. The vibrant opposition leader irked the Government when he called for nationwide anti-corruption demonstrations in July 2020. Ngarivhume demanded an end to state sponsored corruption which was and is still at the heart of economic challenges faced by the country. There was a genuine concern that the whole nation would rise against the ZANU PF-led Government and for that reason Ngarivhume had to be contained.
Though there was no evidence of any wrongdoing on his part, the kangaroo Magistrates Court still found him guilty and sentenced him to four years in prison, with one year being suspended. This was despite the fact that the right to demonstrate is well enshrined in our Constitution.
Ngarivhume's lawyers Prof Lovemore Madhuku and Adv Moses Nkomo maintain that their client is innocent and should not have been sent to prison in the first place. The state would like to delay the appeal for as long as is possible and keep Ngarivhume in prison. They came unprepared and asked for postponement. It would not be a surprise again if they ask for postponement again come the 14th of November!
Ngarivhume, like any other political prisoner currently in custody, deserves his freedom. It is not a crime to be an opposition leader in this country!
It is now over six months since Ngarivhume was sentenced by Magistrate Faresi Chakanyuka to an effective 3 years in prison. The vibrant opposition leader irked the Government when he called for nationwide anti-corruption demonstrations in July 2020. Ngarivhume demanded an end to state sponsored corruption which was and is still at the heart of economic challenges faced by the country. There was a genuine concern that the whole nation would rise against the ZANU PF-led Government and for that reason Ngarivhume had to be contained.
Though there was no evidence of any wrongdoing on his part, the kangaroo Magistrates Court still found him guilty and sentenced him to four years in prison, with one year being suspended. This was despite the fact that the right to demonstrate is well enshrined in our Constitution.
Ngarivhume's lawyers Prof Lovemore Madhuku and Adv Moses Nkomo maintain that their client is innocent and should not have been sent to prison in the first place. The state would like to delay the appeal for as long as is possible and keep Ngarivhume in prison. They came unprepared and asked for postponement. It would not be a surprise again if they ask for postponement again come the 14th of November!
Ngarivhume, like any other political prisoner currently in custody, deserves his freedom. It is not a crime to be an opposition leader in this country!
Source - Muridzo F
