Mahiya locked up for weekend

ZIMBABWE National Liberation War Veteran Association spokesperson Douglas Mahiya, who is facing charges of undermining the authority of the President, has been remanded in custody to tomorrow (Monday) for bail ruling.

Harare magistrate Mr Vakai Chikwekwe yesterday said he needed more time to consider the bail hearing submissions.

Prosecutors Mr Tapiwa Kasema and Ms Sharon Fero opposed granting of bail saying Mahiya would likely interfere with the police who arrested him.

“Your Worship, considering the attitude of the public if the accused is released on bail, his security maybe jeopardised. There are fears that they will be clashes between the accused and the police,” he said.

Mahiya’s lawyer, Mr Harrison Nkomo, argued that the law provided for unconditional release of suspects unless there were compelling reasons not to do so.

“The grounds advanced by the State to take away the rights of the accused must be within the confines of the Constitution. There was no evidence to support bold averments that the accused’s security will be compromised … I urge His Worship not to be abused by the State,” he said

“There is no evidence that if the accused is released he is not going to be safe besides the police officers have an obligation to ensure the safety of the citizenry. You can’t deny a person bail on supposition and speculation,” he added.

The defence said Mahiya was not a flight risk because he did not have a passport and the last time he travelled outside the country was in 1988.

Mahiya pleaded not guilty to charges of undermining the authority or insulting the President.

It is the State’s case that between April and July 2016, Mahiya connived with other members of the war veterans association, who are still at large, and authored a document which allegedly made defamatory statements undermining the President’s authority.

Mahiya also allegedly denigrated the President in an interview with SABC.

Last week police searched his house in Chitungwiza and copies of the communiqué were found and other documents titled “Response to the President’s attack on War Veterans”, which is also alleged to have undermined the authority of the President.

Present at yesterday’s hearing were South African jurists Mr Johann Krieglar and Mr George Bizos among others.