Lawyers representing freelance journalist Hopewell Chin’ono will now file an appeal at High Court against Harare Magistrate Lazini Ncube’s decision to deny him bail after ruling that the media practitioner had a propensity to commit offences.
Magistrate Ncube dismissed Chin’ono’s request to be set free from prison on bail after ruling that the freelance journalist is not a suitable candidate to be granted bail.
The Magistrate said he agreed with prosecutor’s fears that if granted bail Chin’ono might commit other offences, a position which the judicial officer said was well founded.
Magistrate Ncube remanded Chin’ono in custody to 18 February 2021. Chin’ono’s lawyers are now working on filing an appeal at High Court to challenge Magistrate Ncube’s decision denying bail to the freelance journalist.
Meanwhile, Harare Magistrate Ngoni Nduna will on Friday 15 January 2021 hand down his ruling on a bail application filed Zengeza West constituency legislator Hon. Job Sikhala.In his submissions, Hon. Sikhala argued that he is a suitable candidate for bail as he had not breached any of his conditions in the cases that are pending in court.
Source: Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)