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Acie Lumumba

Court Reporter
Former zanu-pf activist William Mutumanje, also known as Acie Lumumba, who is facing charges of undermining the authority of President Mugabe, has engaged Advocate Nelson Chamisa to represent him. Lumumba was yesterday back in court for continuation of his application for referral of the matter to the Constitutional Court. Advocate Chamisa notified the court that he was now taking over the matter from Mr Arshiel Mugiya.

He then sought a postponement of the matter on the basis that he needed time to peruse the record. “Your Worship we are seeking a postponement of this matter on account of developments that have taken place,” he said. “The application for postponement involves constitutional rights, the rights to a fair trial which the accused is entitled to.

“My client is entitled to choose a legal practitioner of his choice. Since I am now the one representing him, I am seeking a postponement of the matter so that I go through the record and Your Worship two weeks would suffice.”

The prosecutor Mr Oscar Madhume rejected the two-week period and proposed that the perusal of the record be done in three days. However, Harare provincial magistrate Mr Vakayi Chikwekwe gave the defence seven days and remanded the matter to August 2.

Lumumba wants his matter referred to the Constitutional Court following the dismissal of his application challenging placement on remand. He said his constitutional rights as enshrined in the Constitution were being infringed.

“The Constitution that empowers the State to put me where I am today is the same Constitution that protects my freedom of speech and expression. The same Constitution allows me to be a citizen of this country who can disapprove of a person who I believe works for me.

“Yes my constitutional rights as enshrined in the Constitution are being infringed,” he said. It is the State’s case that on June 30 Lumumba who was addressing people during the launch of his political party used the F-word to insult President Mugabe.