WOMEN of Zimbabwe Arise (Woza) leaders Jennie Williams and Magondonga Mahlangu who were facing kidnapping and theft charges have been placed off remand following their application to the High Court last week.
Senior Court Reporter
High Court judge Justice Makonese on Thursday set them free pending finalisation of their application for a review against refusal by Bulawayo regional magistrate Godwin Sengweni to discharge them at the close of the State case.
The pair was arrested in June 2011 and charged with kidnapping an elderly woman in Njube suburb and stealing a torch from a house in Nketa.
Part of Justice Makonese’s ruling reads: “Whereupon reading documents filed on record and hearing counsel, it is ordered that: The applicants will not be required to appear on remand in the Regional Magistrates Courts pending the finalisation of the review application that is case number HCR26/12.”
In their application, the activists cited Sengweni and the State as respondents and their application was not opposed.
Sengweni in February last year dismissed Williams and Mahlangu’s application for discharge and ordered that they be put on their defence.
However, the Woza members, through their lawyer Kossam Ncube, approached the High Court seeking a review of Sengweni’s order and the matter is still pending in the higher court.
