MDC vice chairperson and MP for Harare East Constituency Tendai Biti has demanded that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) produce a server to the court to prove that what he said was false. Biti is being charged for allegedly announcing false presidential election results soon after the July 30 poll.
Meanwhile, Biti has successfully argued that his trial at the magistrate court is broadcast live.
Biti allegedly said, “we have now received from our agents across the country results of the 2018 elections, results show beyond reasonable doubt that we have won this election and that the next President of Zimbabwe is Advocate Nelson Chamisa”. The statement has formed the basis of the State’s case against him.
Biti’s lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa said
It would be a gross violation of the accused’s right to a fair hearing to deny him access to a server held by Zec for and on behalf of the electorate. The server will speak to what information was posted at each polling station and each constituency with regards to presidential elections.
Biti ZEC Server demand rational …..is both judiciously and democratically sound yet for those with skittles and skeletons in their secret lock rooms it generates anger and alarm
This Biti trial is about him announcing the just-ended 30 July election results, a mandate that is the sole duty of the electoral body,,,,,, proving that he was telling the “truth or not” is not the case on trial. Demanding ZEC server will not assist him in any way,,,, if they were skeletons or fraud they have already fixed them by now.
I understand MDC tactics of “Opposition” without evidence. We have a similar case of Chamisa in constitutional court for rigged presidential election where they went to constitutional court without evidence knowingly that in court you need hard evidence to prove your case. Its unfortunate that they keep making foolish mistakes. As Think tanks they are supposed to have hard evidence to beat ZANU PF at its game.
This live streaming of the court proceedings will just embarrass MDC as what happens with Chamisa’s presidential election result challenge at Constitutional Court.
Unfortunately, for Biti,,, the law is clear with regards to announcing the election results————-it is the mandate that is the sole duty of the electoral body which is ZEC.