Zimpapers Logo

Prosper Dembedza

Herald Correspondent

Harare regional magistrate, Mrs Ruth Moyo has thrown out an application by lawyers representing the 78 Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) activists to have charges against their clients quashed on the basis that they do not exist in Zimbabwe’s Criminal and Procedure Act.

The 78 CCC activists are facing allegations of participating in an unlawful gathering and disorderly conduct.

In the application submitted yesterday, one of the lawyers, Mr Jeremiah Bamu said the provisions that the State is trying to use against the CCC activists do not exist in the statute, hence the accused persons cannot plead to them.

However, Mrs Moyo has ruled that the charges are very clear.

Mr Lancelotte Mutsokoti, who was representing the State, opposed the application for the quashing of the charges.

Government sources told The Herald that the activists’ lawyers have been raising several technicalities in a bid to delay the trial until the commencement of the SADC Summit with the aim of tarnishing the country’s image.