Chipinge Magistrates Court on Wednesday postponed the trial of Platform for Youth Development Trust (PYD) director Claris Madhuku for the 10th time, to February 21.
Madhuku was arrested in April last year at Rimbi shopping centre in Chipinge, on allegations of organising a public gathering without notifying the regulatory authority as defined by section 24 of the Public Order and Security Act (Posa).
The activist is arguing that police are using the controversial law to settle personal scores as they reportedly kept bringing witnesses without sufficient knowledge.
Madhukus lawyer Langton Mhungu of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) questioned how the police arrested the accused when they could not even interpret Posa, which they used to charge him.
He argued with the state witnesses on the difference between a presenter and an organiser as the police were saying Madhuku was the organiser of the meeting when, according to the defence, he was only a presenter.
The state witnesses were left with egg on their faces when Takawira Mupakati, the PYD programmes officer, testified that he and not Madhuku had organised the meeting.
He also claimed the police had cleared the meeting which they attended and even took refreshments before being provided with transport.
Chipinge magistrate Vusumuzo Gapara assured Madhuku that judgment would be handed down on February 21.
