Chimanimani West MP Lynette Karenyi is likely to taste freedom for the first time today after her week-long incarceration for allegedly labelling President Robert Mugabe gay.
This follows the State’s failure to follow up on its invocation of section 121 within the prescribed seven-day period.
On December 20, Karenyi(36), who is also MDC-T national organising secretary for the women’s assembly, was granted $200 bail by Mutare magistrate Noah Gwatidzo.
But the State, led by Truman Joma, invoked section 121 to bar the release of the MP pending an appeal at the High Court.
The State alleged the MP was a flight risk in their application of refusing bail, but the application was thrown out by the court for lack of evidence.
Karenyi’s lawyer David Tandire yesterday said he was proceeding to pay bail money today so the MP could taste freedom.
“The State invoked section 121 in the hope they were going to appeal against the ruling. However, the seven days have lapsed without any appeal so we are depositing the money tomorrow so Karenyi tastes freedom.
“It is however, an embarrassment for the State. It is now clear that they intended to punish the MP before conviction.
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“We said it before that they had no basis to make an application at the High Court and now it is evident the continued incarceration was meant to punish her before conviction,” Tandire said.
Karenyi is facing charges of undermining the authority of, or insulting the President as defined in section 33 (2) (b) of the criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23 after she allegedly said President Mugabe practised homosexuality with Zanu PF politburo member Jonathan Moyo and the late former president Canaan Banana.
She was addressing a campaign rally in her constituency at Nhedziwa on December 9.
Her statements were meant to demystify the continued criticism of the MDC-T president Morgan Tsvangirai whom Zanu PF leaders claim he was pro-gay.
