Opposition legislators Job Sikhala (Zengeza West) and Godfrey Sithole (Chitungwiza North) have abandoned their planned appeal against a magistrate’s ruling denying them bail for the fifth consecutive time.
The duo was earlier this week denied bail for a 5th consecutive time in a case they are accused of inciting public violence which erupted on June 14 in Nyatsime during the funeral wake of slain Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) activist Moreblessing Ali.
They have now shifted attention to their earlier plea to be given State papers in order to prepare for their trial, NewZimbabwe reported.
Sikhala and Sithole Tuesday appeared before Harare magistrate Dennis Mangosi and were remanded to October 20 for routine remand.
Their attorney Jeremiah Bamu told the court that his clients were no longer interested in appealing Tuesday’s ruling denying them bail. He said:
The accused have made a decision not to go further with the appeal of the case from yesterday but will be requesting for the copy of the ruling handed out yesterday and full case document.
Bamu further indicated that although in terms of the law the State can give the defence papers two days before trial it was a short period to prepare.
Bamu told the court that he hoped the State would give him the papers and the video that is going to be used during the trial for his clients to have a fair trial.
The State has in the past promised to give them the papers but has not done so arguing that the video in question was still being analysed.
The State represented by prosecutor Lancelot Mutsokoti said they would give the defence papers but should they fail, it wouldn’t be a violation of the laws.