Martin Muleya
MUTARE-Convener of Constitutional Defenders Forum (CDF) Luxton Tendai Biti (59) and national Programmes Director Morgan Ncube were today granted $500 bail each when they appeared before Mutare Provincial Magistrate Honest Musiyiwa.
The duo were arrested on Saturday afternoon and were charged for contravening Section 7 (5) of the Maintainance of Peace and Order Act (MOPA) Chapter 11:23 “Convener fail to notify regulating authority of intention to hold a public meeting’.
The duo were represented by Chris Ndlovu of Ndlovu and Gonese Legal Practitioners.
It was the State’s case led by Tirivanhu Mutyasira that Biti and Ncube convened a public meeting at Number 26 B Carrington Darlington, Mutare.
“The place at which the meeting was convened is commonly known for holding public political meetings for MDC Alliance and Citizens Coalition for Change, without the authority of the regulating authority at Mutare Central district. The meeting was attended by about 30 members of the public including a journalist from Wasu Post who are not members or position holders in the Constitutional Defenders Forum. The meeting was convened to discuss constitutional Amendment Bill Number 3 which they were not mandated to do,” prosecuted Mutyasira.
Biti and Ncube were granted bail on usual conditions and were also ordered by the court not to convene and address public gatherings without notifying the regulating authority as well as to report twice every week at the nearest CIF Law and Order Station.
The matter was remanded to the 13th of April 2026 for trial.
