Journalist Hopewell Chin’ono’s lawyers were on Wednesday blocked by police from addressing journalists at the Harare Magistrates Courts.
Chin’ono’s lawyers Beatrice Mtetwa, Gift Mtisi and Doug Coltart were in the midst of updating journalists of what had transpired in court when they were interrupted by riot police and ordered to disperse.
Mtetwa however, told the police that it was not justified for them to disrupt them because they were not engaging in any violent activity. She said:
Why are you here when we are simply addressing journalists peacefully?
You are armed with a baton stick as if there is violence here, but it is just a mere address to the Press. Why do you have to behave like that?
Chin’ono appeared before the Magistrates Court for the ruling on the exception that he had raised through his lawyers to the charge of inciting violence.
Magistrate Vongai Guwuriro, who is handling the matter, was not available to make her ruling.
The matter was postponed to the 26th of May 2021 at 2:15 pm.
Chin’ono faces charges of incitement to commit public.
Chin’ono pleaded not guilty and excepted to the charges on the basis that they do not disclose an offence.