Back to Index

State withdraws summons against Chikomo
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)
July 25, 2012

The State on Wednesday 25 July 2012 withdrew summons issued against Abel Chikomo, the executive director of the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum to stand trial on charges of running an "unregistered" organisation.

Chikomo was served with summons on 3 July 2012 by two police officers only identified as Sergeant Ndawana and Detective Chipwanya to stand trial at the Harare Magistrates Court on Wednesday 25 July 2012.

But the trial could not commence after State prosecutor Innocent Chingarande withdrew summons issued against Chikomo after he advised that the State was not ready to proceed with the matter.

It was agreed that should the State intend to proceed with the matter they would have to serve fresh summons on Chikomo to initiate the case.

Chikomo, who was represented by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights board member Selby Hwacha and Jeremiah Bamu is charged with running an "unregistered" organisation. The charge, which he denies, came after the Forum conducted a survey on transitional justice in Harare's Highfield suburb. The State says this was illegal since the organisation is not registered as a Private Voluntary Organisation (PVO). The State claims that he unlawfully instructed two of his employees to commence or carry out the activities of house to house survey in Canaan, Highfield, Harare with the intention to obtain people's recommendations on the preferred transitional justice mechanism for Zimbabwe, without his organization Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum registering with the Social Welfare Department under the Private Voluntary Organisation Act.

Visit the ZLHR fact sheet

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP