Activist and cleric Evan Mawarire wants his case against police in which he is seeking US$65 000 in damages which was struck off the roll to be retried after he failed to appear in court for the trial. Mawarire has filed an urgent chamber application with the High Court seeking a re-trial for the case, The Herald reports.
Through his lawyers Mawarire said he did not appear in court because of an error caused by his receptionist:
As appears on the set down notice, it was received by the receptionist on 4 June 2020 at 12:09 hours. However, the receptionist did not forward the notice to me on time as I only got to realise it later after 1200hours on 8 June and this matter had been set down for trial at 1000hours. In fact, a colleague who was in court that day called and advised that the matter had been struck off the roll because no one had appeared
Mawarire has cited Home Affairs Minister and several police officers including police general Godwin Matanga for damages emanating from his arrests and detention from 1 February 2017 to 29 November 2017 for demonstrating which is his constitutional right.
More: The Herald