The State yesterday changed charges several times against Kariba pastor Phillip Mugadza who “predicted” President Robert Mugabe’s death, before remanding him in custody to today when Magistrate Vongai Guwuriro is expected to hand down her ruling.
His lawyer, Gift Mtisi, said his client had initially been charged with undermining the authority of the president, then “criminal nuisance” and finally “insulting people of a certain race or religion.” At a press conference held last week, Mugadza announced that President Robert Mugabe would die on October 17 this year. When he appeared before Harare magistrate Vongai Guwuriro, his lawyers Mtisi, Obey Shava and Jeremiah Bamu, argued that he must be immediately released without any conditions because he had been over detained as he has been held since Monday.
Magistrate Guwuriro dismissed the application, before the lawyers launched another request, on the basis that the State was now preferring new charges that he had not been previously warned against. The State went on to produce two different statements which had been signed by Mugadza relating to the new charges he is now facing. Shava said the police lied to him that his lawyers were aware of the new charges and that there was no harm if he signed the statements.
More: Daily News
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