Arresting officer fails to appear, trial postponed

The trial of three civic society leaders accused of protesting outside the Harare Magistrates' Court against the arrest of Jameson Timba and 78 other Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) activists has been postponed to February 28. This follows the failure of the arresting officer, who is a key State witness, to appear in court.

Harare magistrate Ms. Rufaro Panavanhu issued a warrant of arrest for the officer, Donald Chingarafa, after he failed to attend the proceedings.

The three accused are facing charges of participating in an illegal demonstration at the Harare Magistrates' Court in protest over the arrest of CCC members, who were detained for allegedly gathering unlawfully.

The case highlights ongoing tensions surrounding political protests and the judicial process in Zimbabwe. The trial is now set to resume later this month, with legal observers closely watching developments in the case.