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Human Rights Lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa representing Citizens Coalition for Change Legislators Job Sikhala and Godfrey Sithole has threatened to sue deputy Prosecutor General Micheal Reza and Prosecutor Lancelot Mutsokoti for contempt of court.
Mtetwa threatens to sue the two prosecutors yesterday, after they failed to furnish the court with prosecution papers as order by Magistrate Feresi Chakanyuka.
Sikhala and Sithole have spent more than 80 days in remand prison facing charges of inciting public violence during the funeral of opposition activist Moreblessing Ali in Nyatsime area.
Mtetwa said the two prosecutors must be placed in custody until the provision of the defence papers.
“The two accused (Sikhala and Sithole) are being subjected to a different type of justice. They were given a trial date almost two months ago and up to now, no State papers have been provided.
“We now request that Mr Reza and Mutsokoti be placed in custody until the defence papers are provided … so that the State, particularly the prosecution, understands that the powers they wield are constitutional powers that they hold on behalf of the people of Zimbabwe and that they prosecute on our behalf and, therefore, such powers will not be abused,” said Mtetwa.
The magistrate took Mutsokoti to task over the issue, pointing out that the State had confirmed on August 3 that the papers would be ready at the end of the day.
Mutsokoti requested that he be given time to liaise with his superiors so as to answer the question.
“I was advised that the intention was to serve the defence with the full set of state papers, however after further perusal of the document it was noted that two of the witness statements needed some clarification, the docket was then returned to the police,” he said.
Mutsokoti denied that the NPA was in contempt of court.
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