By Rex Mphisa
THE provincial chairperson of the Job Sikhala-led National Democratic Working Group Bhekimpilo Mbedzi was on Friday denied bail by Resident Magistrate Takudzwa Gwazemba who said he was likely to interfere with evidence.
Tumai Ngara, the investigating officer during bail applications told the court that she feared Mbedzi because he was too talkative and should be remanded in custody.
That was despite that Ngara said she was in possession of the phone used to commit the alleged offence which she seized and admitted he could not tamper with.
His human rights lawyer Patrick Tererai of Tererai Legal Practice’s efforts to tell the court the charge was void because it excluded the section of the Constitution Mbedzi said he was going to exercise.
In a brief ruling Gwazemba said the investigating officer said she was afraid Mbedzi would interfere with witnesses and remanded him in custody.
Tererai said hs will approach the High Court on appeal.
Earlier Tererai challenged his client placement on remand arguing that the charge cited by the State was devoid of an offence, in another bid thrown out.
He in that instance asked the court to put it on record the State denied Mɓedzi a bail application Thursday citing lack of time yet he had been at court since 8AM during which the State itself never presented itself in court only to feature after 4PM.
Mbedzi, 41, was on Thursday picked by police for allegedly inciting an unlawful gathering after his self-recorded video on his Facebook page mobilising Zimbabweans to protest against the newly signed Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 3.
He was arrested on July 15 at his home and has been in custody since.
The State alleges that Mbedzi did not notify the regulatory authority about the planned gathering, as required under the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act.
Police recovered a Samsung A04e Galaxy cell phone, Mbedzi used to post the video.
Mbedzi is being charged with inciting an unlawful gathering under Section 187 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act, read together with Section 7(1)(a) and Section 7(5) of the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act.
It is alleged that on July 10 this year, he posted a video on his facebook page to incite otters commit a crime.