Journalists' Arrest: Man Up For "Instigating" Violence Against Police Officers
A Chitungwiza resident is set to be sentenced on the 23rd of August in a case he is accused of instigating violence against police officers.
Moses Hakata, is set to return to court on 23 August, where Chitungwiza Magistrate Rumbidzai Kabasa will hand down her ruling after a full trial.
Allegations:
Hakata is on trial on charges of disorderly conduct as defined in section 41 of the Criminal Law (Codification & Reform) Act. Prosecutors allege that Hakata behaved in disorderly conduct while outside a polling station, where he reportedly told people to assault some ZRP officers and disregarded their orders.
He was also charged with incitement as defined in section 187 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act wherein he is accused of persuading or inducing people to assault police officers.
In his defence, Hakata, who is represented by Tapiwa Muchineripi of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, argued that he was arrested while trying to remonstrate with the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers who were allegedly manhandling and harassing Blessed Mhlanga, an Alpha Media Holdings journalist “who was executing his duties.”
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Mhlanga was arrested in May together with fellow journalist, Chengeto Chidi and spent two nights in prison allegedly for taking pictures 60 metres from a polling station without authority.
Their actions, according to authorities, were in violation of Section 147(1) of the Electoral Act as read with Section 25 of Statutory Instrument (SI) 21/05 which prohibits the taking of photos within a polling station while voting is in progress.
