Deputy magistrate Bianca Makwande has ruled that opposition MDC Alliance legislator for Harare West, Joana Mamombe will be tried separately from her co-accused colleagues, Netsai Marova and Cecilia Chimbiri.
The trio is being accused of faking its abduction in May this year. The three say they were kidnapped from police custody by suspected state security officers.
Meanwhile, their trial has been delayed and or postponed on a number of instances as Mamombe’s lawyer argued that she was not fit to stand trial adding that she has mental issues.
Mamombe’s doctor and two government doctors assessed her and concurred that she had mental problems and deserved some time to rest.
Last week, magistrate Makwande reserved judgment on whether to try the accused separately or not arguing that she needed documents from doctors who had examined Mamombe to arrive at a ruling. Giving the judgment this Monday, she said:
In my view, the separation of trial will not prejudice the accused.
Reports of the doctors ar conflicting and at the end of the day, it is unclear whether she will be able to stand trial before six months. Justice requires that each accused stands trial within reasonable time.
The other two – Marova and Chimbiri are expected in court on the 7th of December.
More: Nehanda Radio