NewsDay reports that the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has barred, Comfort Kawere, a Silobela-based police constable, jailed at Bulawayo’s Fairbridge police detention centre after being convicted by a court martial of insulting President Robert Mugabe from approaching the High Court.
Kawere is serving a 14-day jail term and this week had his attempt to challenge both his conviction and sentence at the High Court thwarted after guards allegedly refused to allow him access to his lawyers. His lawyer, Archibald Madzima, told NewsDay that an attempt to challenge the arbitrary sentence and detention through the Bulawayo High Court on Monday stalled after police refused him access to his client.
Kawere had cited Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri, a Superintendent Mushawembiri and Home Affairs minister Ignatius Chombo as respondents. The police officer also sought to have proceedings of a disciplinary hearing conducted on January 21 at Kwekwe Central Police Station set aside and his detention at Fairbridge Detention Barracks declared unlawful. He also arguing that the ZRP broke its own rules and the country’s laws by trying him without legal representation of his choice and without giving him notice or the chance to bring his own defence. Kawere was arrested after he allegedly defaced Mugabe and Chihuri’s portraits, accusing the two of causing his misery.
More: NewsDay
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