SW Radio Africa news - The Independent Voice of Zimbabwe
The bail appeal for Morgan Komichi, the MDC-T president’s chief polling agent, has been postponed to Thursday because the State filed its opposing papers late. The matter had initially been set down for Tuesday August 6th, at the High Court in Harare. But the hearing was moved to the next day on “administrative reasons”. On Wednesday High Court Judge Hlekani Mwayera postponed the case again, this time because the State failed to file its papers on time, choosing to do so on the morning of the scheduled hearing. Komichi’s lawyer Tarisai Mutangi, said his team was hopeful that the matter will be heard and finalised Thursday. He said: “We also hope that Komichi will be granted bail, considering that some time has lapsed during which the police should have done their investigations.” Komichi first appeared before Harare Magistrate Anita Tshuma on July 29th, who rejected his initial bail application, leading to the High Court appeal. Magistrate Tshuma dismissed the application on the grounds that Komichi was likely to abscond and would interfere with witnesses. Komichi was arrested on July 27th on criminal fraud charges, or alternatively breaking the electoral law, for allegedly tampering with a ballot paper without authority. This was after he handed over to the Electoral Commission ballot papers found dumped in a dustbin located at the July 15th-16th Special Vote command centre. Twisting the events the Commission turned on Komichi, and queried his account of how the ballot papers were found and by whom. The MDC-T says their polling agent received an anonymous tip-off, but the police say until he names his informant, Komichi will be held as the main suspect. The party further accuses the Commission of conducting a witch-hunt instead of acknowledging its electoral failings that won the just-ended election for ZANU PF. Komichi was a senator and deputy transport minister in the just-ended inclusive government.↧