High Court Judge Justice Matanda-Moyo overturns Masvingo DA Ray Hove’s suspension of COTRAD

The High Court has set aside the decision by the Masvingo District Administrator to suspend the operations of Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development Trust (COTRAD) on 11 March 2019. The legal representative of the Civil Division of the Attorney General’s office conceded that there were no grounds upon which to oppose the relief sought. Accordingly the Honorable Mrs Justice Matanda-Moyo granted the following order:

1. The 1st Respondent’s decision to suspend the 1st Applicant’s operations is set aside and declared to be null and void and accordingly of no force and effect whatsoever;
2. The 1st Applicant is not a private voluntary organization as contemplated in terms of the Private Voluntary Organizations Act;
3. The 1st Respondent is not empowered by any law to suspend or stop the operations of the 1st Applicant; and
4. The 1st Respondent is ordered to pay the costs of this application on a legal Practitioner and Client scale.

*1st Applicant = COTRAD

*Respondent = District Administrator, Masvingo

Source: Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development Trust (COTRAD)