MDC deputy national chairperson Tendai said Reza does not meet the legal requirements for prosecuting him. Biti has demanded that prosecutor Michael Reza is recused from the case. Biti is calling Reza’s judicial independence in question after he had accused him of causing the death of civilians in the city on August 1. Biti’s lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa, said Reza does not meet all the constitutional requirement s to prosecute Biti. Section 261 of the Constitution requires that members of the National Prosecuting Authority must not act in a partisan manner or further the interests of any political party or cause. Speaking before magistrate Gloria Takundwa yesterday, Mtetwa argued
Your Worship, Reza, who in terms of the law, is supposed to be impartial, filed an affidavit and made averments that are a cause for concern and such averments cannot be made by an impartial prosecutor. Reza said Biti’s assassination attempt claim was only political grandstanding. He proceeded by saying the violence committed in the CBD [central business district], which claimed the lives of people, were carried out by MDC supporters. What independent prosecutor says that?
Magistrate Takundwa rolled the matter to Thursday for the ruling.
More: Newsday
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