INCARCERATED ex-Central Intelligence Organisation agent and Bindura University lecturer Obadiah Dodo, facing allegations of publishing a 2008 election violence report on an American website, was yesterday released on bail by the High Court.
REPORT BY CHARLES LAITON SENIOR COURT REPORTER
Dodo is being charged alongside a student and a serving member of the police force, Assistant Inspector Collen Musorowegomo. Judge Justice November Mtshiya granted both men $300 bail each, ordered them to report to their nearest police stations and not to interfere with State witnesses.
The judge questioned the decision of the Bindura magistrate who initially dealt with the matter remanding the two in custody, saying there were no reasonable grounds to do so.
Justice Mtshiya said although the magistrate totally agreed with the accused persons in that they had no previous convictions, had no pending case before the courts, had fixed abodes and had not attempted to escape, he, however, went on to rule against them, raising questions on his decision.
Prosecutor Edmore Makoto insisted that they were a flight risk, but the court shot him down.
“I don’t agree with you. This is a case that deserves bail and therefore I will grant them as such,” Mtshiya said.
On Tuesday the judge criticised the prosecutor for failing to make independent decisions and suffering from a “culture of consulting”, especially in cases involving politics.
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This was after Makoto requested for postponement of the matter to yesterday to enable the State to file a response. Dodo (38) and Musorowegomo (39) were arrested for contravening Section 31 (a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
It is alleged the two connived to author a document titled Political Intolerance, Diversity and Democracy: Youth Violence in Bindura Urban, Zimbabwe and posted it on a website for the American International Journal of Contemporary Research.
