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Zimbabwean court frees pastor arrested after organising strike
Source: The Guardian and agencies
Zimbabwean court frees pastor arrested after organising strike
Court has ruled it was unconstitutional to change charges against
Evan Mawarire to attempting to overthrow government
Staff and agencies
Wednesday 13 July 2016 19.04 BST
A court in Zimbabwe has freed a pastor who organised a nationwide strike against the government, ruling that the police had violated his rights.
Magistrate Vakayi Chikwekwe told a packed courtroom that the decision to bring new charges in court against Pastor Evan Mawarire was unconstitutional.
“It’s my finding that the National Prosecuting Authority cannot charge the accused for the first time in court without charges being read out to him,” Chikwekwe said.
Mawarire was originally charged with inciting violence when he was arrested on Tuesday, but prosecutors changed the charge just before his court appearance on Wednesday to more serious charges of attempting to overthrow a constitutionally elected government.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
Court has ruled it was unconstitutional to change charges against
Evan Mawarire to attempting to overthrow government
Staff and agencies
Wednesday 13 July 2016 19.04 BST
A court in Zimbabwe has freed a pastor who organised a nationwide strike against the government, ruling that the police had violated his rights.
Magistrate Vakayi Chikwekwe told a packed courtroom that the decision to bring new charges in court against Pastor Evan Mawarire was unconstitutional.
“It’s my finding that the National Prosecuting Authority cannot charge the accused for the first time in court without charges being read out to him,” Chikwekwe said.
Mawarire was originally charged with inciting violence when he was arrested on Tuesday, but prosecutors changed the charge just before his court appearance on Wednesday to more serious charges of attempting to overthrow a constitutionally elected government.
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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/13/zimbabwean-court-frees-pastor-arrested-organising-strike
