THE trial of Sunday Mail editor Mabasa Sasa, reporters Tinashe Farawo and Brian Chitemba on charges of publishing falsehoods, opened at the Harare Magistrates’ Court yesterday with the trio pleading not guilty to the charges.
BY PAIDAMOYO MUZULU
The State accuses them of publishing a false story in November last year, which claimed the police were investigating a senior police officer for being part of a syndicate that was poaching elephants in Hwange National Park.
They are being represented by Advocate Farai Mahere, who is instructed by Muzangaza and Tomana Legal Practitioners.
The trial opened after the defence abandoned its application seeking refusal of placement on remand.
In their joint defence outline, the journalists averred they all took reasonable steps to publish a balanced and accurate story.
Sasa said on the eve of the publication in question, he received the story from Farawo and Chitemba and satisfied himself of the truthfulness of the story through interrogating the reporters before he cleared the story for publication.
On the other hand, Farawo and Chitemba said they verified the story before writing it.
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“After receiving tips from sources, we worked on the verification of the leads. The investigations involved speaking to senior personnel from the National Parks Department and the Zimbabwe Republic Police,” the duo said in their defence outline.
“Both the said government departments confirmed that investigations were underway regarding the poaching of elephants. We satisfied ourselves of the truthfulness of the story before we sent the story to Sasa.”
The trio also said they were prepared to individually testify in their joint defence.
Among the witnesses, the State said it would also be calling police chief spokesperson, Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba.
The trial is before magistrate Tendai Mahwe while Francesca Mukumbiri is prosecuting.
