The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) acting chief elections officer, Utoile Silaigwana on Monday told the court that he did not witness MDC co-vice president Morgen Komichi committing an offence.
Silaigwana was giving his testimony before Harare magistrate Ruramai Chitumbura during Komichi’s trial. Komichi, who is facing charges of contravening the Electoral Act which criminalises interrupting, obstructing or disturbing proceedings related to the announcement of election results, pleaded not guilty.
While being led by prosecutor Michael Reza, Silaigwana said:
I was within the national results centre… I may tell the court that on the very day, I was informed that at the place where ZEC was announcing results, the accused took to the podium and uttered some statements.
During cross-examination with Komichi’s lawyer, Obey Shava, Silaigwana said that he was the one who reported the matter to the police even though he did not see Komichi commit the offence.
The court will hand down the ruling on January 21, 2019.
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