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MDC Provincial Treasurer's trial set for November
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)
October 20, 2010

Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Treasurer for Mashonaland Central Province Gilbert Kagodora will now stand trial on 10 November after Bindura Magistrate Charles Murove postponed his trial on charges of undermining the authority of or insulting President Robert Mugabe.

Magistrate Murove postponed Kagodora's trial after his lawyers David Hofisi and Jeremiah Bamu of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) informed the court that the prosecutor had not served them with the witness' statements so as to fully prepare for trial.
Kagodora will now stand trial on 10 November 2010 after the prosecutor undertook to provide Hofisi and Bamu with all the witness' statements.

Kagodora, who was issued with a warrant of arrest after he arrived late for his case but which was later cancelled when he appeared in court is accused of contravening Section 33 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23 by undermining the authority of or insulting the President.

The police allege that Kagodora denounced President Mugabe during an address to party supporters at a constitutional awareness meeting held at Nzvimbo Council Hall in Chiweshe, Mashonaland Central on 11 March 2010 and at another meeting held in Wadzanai suburb in Shamva, Mashonaland Central on 5 June 2010, when he said; "Mugabe mudenga, Grace mudenga, vabatanidzei, roverai pasi," which the police deduced to mean "Mugabe up, Grace up, bring them together and drop them on the ground."

Apparently Kagodora was removed from remand on 25 June 2010 by Magistrate Ruramai Chitumbura on the same charge that he has been summonsed to stand trial after his lawyers applied for refusal of further remand.

Besides Kagodora, Epworth Member of Parliament Hon. Eliah Jembere, who was also charged with undermining the authority of or insulting the President Mugabe at the same time with Kagodora, was also removed from remand on 25 June 2010. Hon. Jembere has not yet been served with any summons on the matter.

Hon. Jembere was accused of insulting President Mugabe when he addressed party supporters at a constitutional awareness meeting by saying "Mugabe mudenga, ZANU PF mudenga, vabatanidzei, roverai roverai pasi," which the police interpreted as meaning to say "Mugabe up, ZANU PF up, bring them together and drop them down.

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