THE State on Wednesday postponed a case in which 15 Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) activists are facing charges of inciting public violence at the funeral wake of Moreblessing Ali who was murdered last year.
They appeared before Harare magistrate Ethel Chichera who postponed the matter to September 25.
Prosecutor Eurita Masunda told the court that witnesses were not available to attend the hearing.
The lawyer representing the CCC members, Tapiwa Muchineripi, put the State on notice saying he will make an application for removal of further remand if the case is postponed again.
Masunda told the court that on June 14, 2022, the CCC activists, in the company of three other accomplices who are also on remand, conspired to engage in violence to avenge Ali’s murder.
It is alleged that they used their vehicles to transport people from different locations to Nyatsime where they later engaged in public violence, targeting property belonging to Zanu PF supporters.
Keep Reading
- Mr President, you missed the opportunity to be the veritable voice of conscience
- ED to commission new-look border post
- Zanu PF ready for congress
- EU slams Zim over delayed reforms
It is alleged that they proceeded to Chibhanguza shopping centre where they torched a gazebo, damaged windows of 13 shops, four beerhalls before looting groceries and electrical gadgets.
Job Sikhala, who had been engaged as a lawyer by Ali’s family following her murder has spent over a year in remand prison over the same charges.
Sikhala has unsuccessfully sought bail on several occasions, forcing some citizens to petition President Emmerson Mnangagwa to intervene.
Government has said Mnangagwa will not intervene in the spirit of respecting the separation of power between the Judiciary and the Executive.