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VOP Trustees appear before Harare magistrate
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)
February 10, 2006

The trustees of the Voice of the People (VOP) had their reporting conditions cancelled as part of an order made by Magistrate Rebecca Takavadii in the Harare Magistrates' Court today. The trustees who appeared in court today were David Masunda, Lawrence Chibwe, Nhlanhla Ngwenya and Millicent Phiri. The other two trustees, Arnold Tsunga and Isabella Matambanadzo, were not required to appear today as their bail conditions had previously been altered by application. The VOP trustees are currently facing charges under section 7(1) of the Broadcasting Services Act, for allegedly broadcasting without a licence.

Lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa, acting for the trustees, was due to make an application for refusal of further remand, having notified the state and the police of such intention on several occasions prior to the hearing today. Nevertheless the prosecutor advised the court that he was unprepared for the matter. Further, the Investigating Officer failed to attend court and to provide necessary information to the Prosecutor.

As a result, the magistrate postponed the matter to the 28th February 2006, and advised the parties that the application would be considered on that date even if the state again claims to be unprepared. She further ordered that the trustees immediately be released from their obligation to report once a week to the Law and Order section at Harare Central police station.

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