Chin’nono trial dates set, case to be heard over three days

The Magistrates’ court has set 7, 8 and 9 December 2020 as the trial date for journalist Hopewell Chin’ono were he will be facing charges of inciting public violence.

Chin’nono was arrested in July this year and spent almost two months at Chikurubi Maximum Prison before he was latter temporarily freed on ZWL$10 000 bail by the High Court.

He is being charged of intent to incite public violence ahead of the foiled July 31 citizen protest.

Chin’ono appeared before Magistrate Ngoni Nduna at Rotten Row Magistrates’ Court in Harare on Tuesday, 10  following his lawyers’ application to have the magistrate recuse himself from the case.

However, Nduna dismissed the application, arguing that there already is a pending review application at the High Court regarding his conduct, which will give the defence the redress it sought.

Following the dismissal of the application, Nduna postponed the matter to 7, 8 and 9 December 2020 for the commencement of trial.

Meanwhile , Chin’ono is currently facing fresh charges of  making a post on Twitter that allegedly impaired the dignity of Zimbabwe’s Chief Justice Luke Malaba.

He posted tweets claiming the country’s top most judge was seen at the Harare Magistrates’ Court during the time he was seeking to be granted bail.