Prosecutor-General Kumbirai Hodzi has reportedly filed an application for rescission of the acquittal of journalist Hopewell Chin’ono by the High Court on charges of publishing falsehoods.
This comes after High Court judge Justice Charehwa had ruled that the charge against Chin’ono on publishing falsehoods cannot stand as it was declared unconstitutional.
He was being charged with contravening Section 31 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act which deals with publishing or communicating falsehoods prejudicial to the State.
Prior to Justice Charehwa’s ruling, Chin’ono’s lawyers had earlier argued during his appearances before the Magistrates Court in Harare, that the case was based on a non-existent charge which was declared unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court in 2014.
Following the dismissal of their argument at the Magistrates Court, Chin’ono through his lawyers filed a review application with the High Court.
Justice Charehwa confirmed then, that indeed the provision relied on was declared unconstitutional and therefore cannot be relied on to press charges against the journalist.
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