APPLICATIONS of refusal of further remand by activists Japhet Moyo, Evan Mawarire and Gift Mutasa were today thrown out by a Harare magistrate.
Harare magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa dismissed the applications on the grounds that they lack merit and the trio were facing grave charges.
ThisFlag leader Mawarire, Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Mutasa and his secretary-general Moyo are facing charges subverting a constitutionally elected government.
Mugwagwa remanded their matter to October 2 after dismissing their applications.
’’Allegations faced by the accused persons are serious and the court is taking into consideration the nature of the offences and the repercussions thereof if the application is granted, it will affect the peace and security of the nation,’’ she said.
’’The accused persons are well connected outside the jurisdiction of Zimbabwe and hence it will not be prudent to have them removed from remand as they pose a risk.
’’Considering the current political situation in Zimbabwe it will not be prudent to remove the accused persons from remand and the application is hereby dismissed.”
Prosecuting, Idah Maromo alleges that Moyo called for a nationwide strike to protest against the government where’s his co-accused Mawarire and Mutasa on January 14, recorded a video for the Zimbabwean populace’s consumption, which went viral on social media platforms, including YouTube, Twitter, WhatsApp and Facebook, which have worldwide coverage.
It is the State’s case that the contents of the video were meant to subvert a constitutional government in that Mawarire was coercing Zimbabwean workers not to report for duty and encouraging civil disobedience or resistance of all law.
