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This article participates on the following special index pages:
Talks, dialogue, negotiations and GNU - Post June 2008 "elections" - Index of articles
WOZA
members in court for two separate trials this week
Women
of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA)
October 13, 2008
In the first
trial of the week, two members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA)
are set to appear in the Bulawayo Magistrate's Court on Tuesday
13th October 2008.
Cynthia Ncube
and Trust Moyo had been arrested in Bulawayo on 5th May and charged
with distributing materials likely to cause a breach of the peace.
Zimbabwe
Lawyers for Human Rights had applied to the Attorney General
for the matter to be reviewed due a lack of evidence. (The evidence
against Trust Moyo was that he was carrying a banner reading 'we
want bread and roses'). A decision is expected to be handed down
tomorrow.
On Wednesday
15th, the 14 members who had been arrested in Harare on 28th May
during a peaceful procession are also due to appear on trial in
Harare Magistrate's Court. They had been arrested near the Zambian
Embassy in Harare, where they were to hand over a petition to the
SADC chair calling for an end to post-election violence. 12 of the
group spent 17 days in custody in Chikurubi and Remand Prisons,
whilst two, Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, spent 37 days
in Chikurubi Female Prison.
The trial was
due to have taken place on 26th August but Magistrate Shomwe allowed
the state's application for the trial to be postponed on grounds
that the prosecutor, Zvekare had fallen ill. The stand-in prosecutor
insisted that the state's case had been finalised and that Harrison
Nkomo, the defence lawyer could receive a copy of the docket. However
the docket was not available in the office and the defence has since
received no documentation. As a result a further request that the
group be removed off remand will be submitted.
Under the agreement
between the ZANU PF and two MDC formations (resolving the challenges
facing Zimbabwe) the case against both groups of members should
be dismissed. (See Article 18 - "Security of persons and prevention
of violence Clause (j) that while having due regard to the Constitution
of Zimbabwe and the principles of the rule of law, the prosecuting
authorities will expedite the determination as to whether or not
there is sufficient evidence to warrant the prosecution or keeping
on remand of all persons accused of politically related offences
arising out of or connected with the March and June 2008 elections.")
It remains to
be seen whether this agreement clause can be implemented when the
whole agreement is at present deadlocked.
Anyone who is
interested in attending either trial is cordially invited to attend.
For more information
about the cases or details of the trials, please contact +263 912
898 110/2. The legal documents pertaining to both cases are available
at www.wozazimbabwe.org
in the legal documents section.
Names of those
appearing on Wednesday are as follows:
- Jennifer
Williams
- Magodonga
Mahlangu
- Tracy Doig
- Nolwandle
Simunye
- Celine Madukani
- Melba Nhavhaya
- Alice Kasinamunda
- Clara Manjengwa
- Veronica
Chshambwa
- Rejoice Chauke
- Lilian Ntefula
- Tarisai Zheke
- Verina Muchegu
- Mandlenkosi
Moyo (male member)
Visit
the WOZA fact
sheet
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