Kariba Pastor Phillip Patrick Mugadza of Remnant Pentecostal Church has challenged the legality of his arrest and detention after he was brought to court after 51 hours. The constitution requires t6hat accused people be brought to court within 48 hours. Last week Mugadza made a “prophecy” that Presiden Robert Mugabe will die on 17 October 2017. arrested on Monday 16 January 2017 and charged with criminal nuisance. He was accused of causing the publication of a story entitled “Pastor Mugadza says President Mugabe to die in October 2017, thus says the Lord.” The story appeared in the online publication The Zimbabwe Mail on Friday 13 January 2017.
Pastor Mugadza’s lawyer Gift Mtisi of ZLHR also argued that the police had compelled Pastor Mugadza to sign a new warned and cautioned statement in the absence of his lawyer. The prosecutors allege that Pastor Mugadza insulted Christian religion and the African tradition by predicting someone ‘s death.
Magistrate Vongai Muchuchutu will make her ruling on Mugadza’s application today, Thursday 19, 2017.
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