Heal Zim Trust director Mahiya has case to answer ...

Heal Zim Trust director Mahiya has case to answer - NPA

Crisis Coalition@20 on Twitter: "Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition Chairperson Rashid Mahiya is currently going through some formalities at the National Prosecuting Authority offices in Harare and is expected to appear at Rotten — Rashid Mahiya

Zim Now Writer

Heal Zimbabwe Trust Executive director, Rashid Mahiya has been summoned by the National Prosecution Authority to stand trial on March 29 2023 at Harare Magistrates Court and answer to charges of undermining constitutional government as defined in section 22(2)(a)(i) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

Mahiya is accused of plotting to overthrow President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.

He had been removed from remand on November 5, 2021, after his lawyer, Tonderai Bhatasara of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, successfully challenged the lengthy prosecution of the pro-democracy campaigner without putting him on trial since he was arrested on Monday 25 February 2019.

Mahiya stands accused of unlawfully scheming with some unidentified accomplices in organising a meeting at Wild Geese Conference Centre in Pomona suburb in Harare between December 3, 2018, to December 6, 2018.

The alleged actions, the NPA said, were meant to subvert a constitutional government.

The NPA said deliberations from the meeting were aimed at overthrowing or attempting to overthrow President Mnangagwa’s government by unconstitutional means or seizing the functions of the government or force Zimbabwean workers to engage in acts of boycott, civil disobedience or passive resistance to law.

Mahiya’s arrest in 2019 came after several pro-democracy campaigners, trade unionists, civil society leaders and opposition legislators were arrested following countrywide anti-government demonstrations, where people protested against a hike in fuel prices.