INCARCERATED Zengeza West opposition legislator Job Sikhala yesterday filed an application to have his trial broadcast live when he appeared before Harare magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa .
Sikhala has been in remand prison since June last year following his arrest on a charge of incitement to public violence after violent skirmishes rocked the funeral wake of slain opposition Citizens Coalition for Change activist Moreblessing Ali.
His lawyer Jeremiah Bamu submitted that having his client’s trial broadcast live would ensure he receives a fair hearing.
“This way, the trial will be done in a fair manner and it will be a public trial and our reasons for this application are that it is meant to vindicate the interests of the public,” Bamu said.
“There is no other court or person that can come and tell you to allow or reject this decision because you are the one who is overseeing this trial proceeding and you also have an obligation to protect and give effect to members of the public who are entitled to freedom of information and who also have a right to have public access to what will take place in court and in the trial.”
He said Sikhala’s case was a matter of public interest.
“This request will also allow members of the family to be detailed of the ongoing proceedings in this case as this comes as a request from the accused’s children who are overseas and are not able to attend trial,” he submitted.
“There is no prejudice at all as this application will not cause any interference and will not be any expense to anyone and will not interfere with prosecutorial order. We will also like to add to the requests and submit that the media be allowed to use their gadgets during the trial so as to even do their very own live feed.”
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Gofa will make a ruling on the application today.
