MDC deputy national chairperson and MP, Tendai Biti has vowed to appeal against his conviction and sentence for announcing last election’s results.
Biti, who was accused of announcing results of last July’s elections in violation of the country’s electoral laws, was given a suspended six month jail term by Harare magistrate Gloria Takundwa. He told journalists soon after emerging from the court building that he was not a criminal and did not deserve the treatment he has received from the state. His lawyer, Alec Muchadehama said Biti is innocent as he is not the only one who announced results. Said Muchadehama:
We are going to appeal against both conviction and sentence and the basis of our appeal is that the magistrate misdirected herself in several respects. Firstly, she has dismissed that she had no jurisdiction to hear the matter when in fact she had no authority to handle the case. The charges were unnecessarily split, but nonetheless, the magistrate convicted Tendai on both counts. Thirdly, the state witnesses’ evidence case was too poor to bring out a conviction.
More: NewZimbabwe.com