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Trial of GALZ employee Ellen Chademana commenced at the Harare Magistrates court
Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ)
November 15, 2010

The trial of GALZ employee Ellen Chademana commenced at the Harare Magistrates court. Chademana facing charges of allegedly possessing pornographic pictures thereby contravening section 26(1) of the Censorship and Entertainment Control Act (Chapter10:04). This follows the states refusal to grant an application for discharge, which had earlier on been filed by Chademana's lawyers.

On November 12 2010, the case began with cross examination by Chademana's defence Lawyer Jeremiah Bamu. Chademana took to the witness stand and gave an account of what transpired on the fateful day, when she, together with a colleague was arrested during an office raid on May 21 2010.

She told the court how the search began in her absence and was only called in by the police who said they only needed her to assist them with information.

"To my surprise when I got to the office soon as I got off my car I was ordered to switch off my cellphone, and I was whisked into the offices. Everything was in a mess indicating that there had been a search earlier on. I was notified by the police that during the search which had been conducted in my absence, the police had found on my work station a file written Gender Minutes 2006 and 2007 which allegedly contained a pornographic picture."

She also narrated how she was not in possession of the alleged folder and was not aware of its contents and maintained that she has never seen this folder before.

Meanwhile the trial will re-commence on the 16th of November with Chademana's cross-examination by the state prosecutor Rufaro Mhandu . Harare Magistrate Don Ndirowei is presiding over the matter. Charges levelled against Chademana arose when police armed with a search warrant ransacked the GALZ offices alleging that the organisation was in possession of dangerous drugs and pornographic material.

News Update
November 16, 2010

The trial of GALZ employee Ellen Chademana has been postponed to November 18, 0830 hrs, Court 5. Harare Magistrate Don Ndirowei is presiding over the matter.

Chademana was set to be re-examined by the state prosecutor Rufaro Mhandu today (16 November), however due to a backlog of cases the matter had to be deferred to a later date.

The trial commenced at the Harare Magistrates court on the 12th of November, with a cross examination by the defense lawyers.

Chademana is facing charges of allegedly possessing pornographic pictures thereby contravening Section 26(1) of the Censorship and Entertainment Control Act (Chapter10:04).

This follows the states refusal to grant an application for discharge, which had earlier on been filed by Chademana's lawyers.

Charges leveled Chademana arose when police armed with a search warrant ransacked the GALZ offices alleging that the organisation was in possession of dangerous drugs and pornographic material.

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