THE Attorney-General’s office has relaxed bail conditions for Mthwakazi Liberation Front (MLF) leaders Paul Siwela and Charles Thomas by lifting the 40km radius restriction and easing reporting conditions from thrice to once per week.
Report by Richard Muponde
In response to an application for variation of bail conditions by Siwela and Thomas at the Bulawayo High Court, Martha Cheda for the AG did not oppose the application for variation and cancellation of some of the bail conditions.
“That the second Applicant (Siwela) must report at Bulawayo Police Station at CID law and Oder once a week instead of the three times on Monday between 6am and 6pm, while first applicant (Thomas) reports at Njube Police Station on the same day and times. The applicants no longer need the written consent of a Bulawayo magistrate when they leave the 40km radius of Bulawayo Main Post Office,” Cheda wrote.
“The respondent (AG) is still opposed to the other conditions being altered, that is, passports must remain in the custody of the Registrar of the High Court until matter is finalised. The applicants can apply for the release of their passports whenever the need to travel out of the country arises.”
She said the RG’s Office was making efforts to have the trial judge Justice Nicholas Ndou, who resigned in December last year, recalled to finalise all his outstanding cases at the Bulawayo High Court.
“A date will soon be set for the continuation of the trial. The judge’s attendance may be secured while the applicants are out of the country and this may compromise the administration of justice,” she said.
The conditions automatically apply to their co-accused John Gazi, being represented by advocate Sabelo Sibanda, who was, however, not part of the application.
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Siwela and Thomas’ application was necessitated by Justice Ndou’s resignation before delivering his judgment in the case, raising fears that the case would take long to reach its conclusion. Justice Ndou resigned on December 31 last year.
MLF activists Siwela (49), Thomas (44) and Gazi (54) are facing treason charges for allegedly seeking to overthrow President Robert Mugabe’s government through unconstitutional means.
The three were arrested in March 2011 over allegations they distributed flyers bearing the logo of the Mthwakazi Liberation Front – a pressure group-cum-political party – agitating for Egyptian-style uprisings against Mugabe.
Advocates Lucas Nkomo and Sindiso Mazibisa represent Siwela and Thomas.
