News / National
MDC-T aspiring MP finally released on bail
06 Jul 2013 at 13:00hrs | Views
The MDC-T aspiring legislator for Makoni Central Patrick Sagandira and his campaign manager Lovemore Chifomboti, who have been locked up in remand on public violence charges, for the past two weeks, were finally released on Friday.
The MDC-T officials were detained at Rusape Remand Prison after the Rusape area prosecutor Mr Tirivanhu Mutyasira invoked the notorious Section 121 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act after the issuance of bail to the suspects by provincial magistrate Mr Shing Mutiro.
The pair was supposed to appear at the High Court last Tuesday, but failed, after the AG's office submitted its notice of appeal late. The matter was then sat down Friday and High Court judge Justice Hlekhani Mwayera upheld Mr Mutiro's ruling and ordered Sagandira and Chifomboti free on $100 bail each.
Sagandira and Chifomboti are facing public violence charges following a report by his rival Grace Kwinjeh's campaign team Tazviona Marima, Canaan Nyamombe and one Yasini.
Sagandira's lawyer Mr Leonard Chigadza said Justice Mwayera dismissed the State grounds of appeal as baseless and unsustainable and they have deposited the bail money with the clerk of court.
"We have deposited the bail money with the clerk of court and my clients are, like any other Zimbabwean, enjoying their freedom after two weeks of hell. They are in good mental frame and are focusing on the challenge ahead," said Mr Chigadza.
The MDC-T pair is denying the charges arguing that they were being persecuted by their political rivals following their victory in party primary elections.
They received to a thunderous welcome by hordes of MDC-T supporters that were chanting and sloganeering outside the courthouse. The MDC-T supporters drove up and down in a convoy celebrating the release of the man they regard as their next legislator.
The MDC-T officials were detained at Rusape Remand Prison after the Rusape area prosecutor Mr Tirivanhu Mutyasira invoked the notorious Section 121 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act after the issuance of bail to the suspects by provincial magistrate Mr Shing Mutiro.
The pair was supposed to appear at the High Court last Tuesday, but failed, after the AG's office submitted its notice of appeal late. The matter was then sat down Friday and High Court judge Justice Hlekhani Mwayera upheld Mr Mutiro's ruling and ordered Sagandira and Chifomboti free on $100 bail each.
Sagandira and Chifomboti are facing public violence charges following a report by his rival Grace Kwinjeh's campaign team Tazviona Marima, Canaan Nyamombe and one Yasini.
"We have deposited the bail money with the clerk of court and my clients are, like any other Zimbabwean, enjoying their freedom after two weeks of hell. They are in good mental frame and are focusing on the challenge ahead," said Mr Chigadza.
The MDC-T pair is denying the charges arguing that they were being persecuted by their political rivals following their victory in party primary elections.
They received to a thunderous welcome by hordes of MDC-T supporters that were chanting and sloganeering outside the courthouse. The MDC-T supporters drove up and down in a convoy celebrating the release of the man they regard as their next legislator.
Source - news
