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Court Reporter
The court is expected to make a ruling next Wednesday on an application by five Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (ZNLWVA) executive members who are challenging their placement on remand.
The five are facing charges of undermining the authority of the President.
Magistrate Ms Bianca Makwande ordered the State to ensure that former Officer Commanding Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Law and Order Section Assistant Commissioner Crispen Makedenge submits a report on investigations into insults allegedly hurled by Senior Assistant Commissioner Thulani Ncube to Douglas Mahiya by September 30.
Mahiya, who is the association’s spokesperson, accuses Snr Ass Comm Ncube – who is now the Officer Commanding Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Law and Order Section – of verbally insulting him.
Mr Makwande said: “There might have been an oversight that a date was not given on the order.
“I am giving State another chance. The report is to be submitted on or before September 30.”
Responding to the application challenging continued remand, prosecutor Mr Tapiwa Kasema said the five had a case to answer.
“The accused were arrested without a warrant on a reasonable suspicion that they committed an offence,” he said.
“The docket is almost complete and accused should remain on remand until trial date.”
Mr Kasema alleged that between April 2016 and July 2016 Mahiya, Francis Nhando, Victor Matemadanda, Headman Moyo and Samuel Bhila acting in connivance with other high-ranking national, provincial and district members still at large authored a document captioned “War veterans’ communiqué on the state of Zimbabwe’s economy, the ZANU-PF party leadership and the way forward for the people of Zim- babwe”.
They allegedly made defamatory statements thereby undermining the authority of President Mugabe.
State alleged that they created the communiqué with the knowledge and realisation that its contents might engender feelings of hostility or cause hatred, contempt or ridicule towards President Mugabe.
On July 18, Mahiya held a meeting at Raylton Sports Club and issued the communiqué to a few journalists leading to the document being published in Newsday and on the internet.
It is alleged that in an interview with SABC reporter, Matemadanda also denigrated the President.
On July 27 a search was conducted at Mahiya’s residence and copies of the communiqué were found as well as documents titled “Response to the President’s attack on War Veterans”, which also undermined the President’s authority.
Online Reporter