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YIDEZ honours Cynthia Manjoro
Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights)
March 12, 2012

The Youth Initiative for Democracy in Zimbabwe Trust (YIDEZ) honoured the incarcerated ZimRights National Programmes Coordinator, Cynthia Manjoro with an award over the weekend.

Cynthia received the Getrude Mtombeni award, an annual accolade given to outstanding young women who have contributed to Zimbabwe's democratization agenda.

Her mother, Ms Anna Daniel received the award on her behalf at a ceremony held to celebrate the life of the late Ms Mtombeni and her role in the fight for democracy and holistic empowerment of young people.

Meanwhile, the High Court today postponed the bail application hearing for her and other 28 Glenview residents to the 15th March. The trial was set to take off today but both the state and the defense counsel agreed to postpone the matter to a letter date citing that there was need for more time to go through the voluminous indictment papers before the trial starts. The defense counsel also cited that the nature of evidence needed for a trial is different from one needed on bail application. The defense counsel also mentioned of the fact that the accused persons were initially facing murder charges but a relook at the indictment papers shows public violence as an alternative charge or an added charge-hence the need for more time. The state, represented by Edmore Nyazamba shot back arguing that the memories fade with time. Reference was made to the memories of the witnesses therefore the need to speed up the process whilst witnesses recall what happened.

The two parties failed to agree on the actual date to set the trial in motion with the defense counsel suggesting at least three weeks while the other part wanted just five days. The presiding judge , Justice Chinembiri Bhunu could not act on the bail issue today due to the fact that the defense counsel could not agree on the interpretation of the ruling given by the judge who was presiding over previously - hence the request to have a look into the records first.

The defense counsel also raised concerns over the environment in the prisons regarding the space when lawyers are carrying out interviews with the accused persons. Mr Charles Kwaramba complained that the environment does not make it easy for involved lawyers to properly take instructions interviews are carried in the presence of prisons officers and time is given at the discretion of the officer on duty.

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