Activists’ Trial: Day One

Posted March 24th, 2009 by crisis

High court postpones trial commencement

Political prisoners upon their release from Chikurubi Maximum Prison

The High Court today, 8 June 2009 postponed the trial commencement of four Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) activists, Concilia Chinanzvavana, 72 year old Fidelis Chiramba, Collen Mutemagawu and Violet Mupfuranhewe which was scheduled to begin today, to the 9th of June 2009. The deferment was attributed to the need for the state to peruse through an application by the defense for referral to the Supreme Court.

The defense, led by Mr. Alec Muchadehama of Mbidzo, Muchadehama and Makoni Legal Practitioners tabled an application for the referral of the matter to the Supreme Court sitting as a constitutional court in terms of Section 24 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, to allow for the hearing of the violation of their constitutional rights.

Zimbabwe’s humanitarian woes far from over

Posted June 3rd, 2009 by swupdtv

  Key Points

  • 800,000 Zimbabweans are in need of food aid
  • Number of cholera cases and deaths have gone down
  • 44,000 children under 5 in need of treatment for malnutrition
  • Farm invasions have worsened the humanitarian situation in the country
  • Zimbabwe requires more than US$700 million to meet immediate humanitarian needs

State case against Rights lawyer faces collapse

Posted June 2nd, 2009 by gretman

 

…as Magistrate removes Muchadehama from remand on lack of evidence
 
The state’s case against acclaimed human rights lawyer, Alec Muchadehama on trumped up charges of conniving with a court clerk to prematurely release 3 activists from Chikurubi Maximum Prison is facing imminent collapse owing to lack of substantiated evidence.
 
Muchadehama, who appeared before magistrate, Catherine Chimanda today, 1 June 2009 for a ruling on his application for refusal of further remand, was removed from remand and the state asked to proceed by way of summons. During the ruling, the Harare Magistrate noted that there was no reason for suspecting that Muchadehama committed or was about to commit a crime based on the evidence submitted before the courts.

GPA: Views from Gweru and Zvishavane

Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition held an Outreach Meeting at Nyaradzai Hall in Zvishavane on the 21st of March 2009 from 1400 to 1700 hours. This meeting was aimed at providing a platform for the marginalized communities to discuss pertinent issues affecting them in their areas and outline expectations from the inclusive government.

GPA: Views from Karoi

Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition held a public meeting in Karoi on the 8th of April 2008 at the Karoi Stadium under the topic Hurumende yemubatanidzwa: Zvatinotarisira sevana vemuZimbabwe-  The inclusive government: Expectations of the people of Zimbabwe.