Online Reporter
Mutare Bureau
TENDAI BITI and former Beitbridge mayor Morgan Ncube will return to court on September 1, 2026, after their trial failed to proceed before Mutare magistrate Honest Musiiwa last Friday.
The pair is facing allegations of holding a public meeting in Mutare without notifying the regulating authority, in contravention of Section 7(5) of the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act (Chapter 11:23).
They remain free on US$500 bail under existing conditions.
Prosecutor Sandra Mlambo appeared for the State, while the accused were represented by Mr Chris Ndlovu of Gonese and Ndlovu Legal Practitioners.
The State alleges that Biti, in his capacity as convener of the Constitutional Defenders Forum, and Ncube, who is alleged to have been the organisation’s national programmes director, acted in common purpose when they convened a public meeting in Mutare on March 21 this year without notifying the regulating authority as required by law.
According to the State, the meeting was held at Number 26B Carrington, Darlington, Mutare, a venue it described as commonly used for political meetings by the MDC Alliance and the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).
In the State’s outline, the prosecution alleges that the gathering attracted about 30 members of the public, including a journalist.
The prosecution further alleged that the meeting was organised to discuss Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3, arguing that such public consultations fall within the mandate of the relevant Parliamentary Portfolio Committee.
“The meeting was attended by about 30 members of the public, including a journalist from Wasu Post, who is not a member or a position holder in the Constitutional Defenders Forum. The meeting was convened to discuss Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 3, which they were not mandated to do. The responsibility and obligation of discussing publicly the Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 3 lies with the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee. Those in attendance were wearing T-shirts inscribed ‘#Our Constitution Our Fight’, ‘#Miswai’ and ‘Hands Off Our Constitution’,” reads the outline.
The State previously consented to the granting of bail, with the court ordering that both accused remain on US$500 bail pending the finalisation of the matter.
The case has now been remanded to September 1, when trial proceedings are expected to commence before the Mutare Magistrates’ Court.
