Komichi granted bail

MORGAN Komichi, the national chairperson of the opposition faction led by Mr Nelson Chamisa, has been granted $200 bail after being charged with attempting to disrupt the announcement of Presidential election results by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.

He was arrested on Friday and appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Learnmore Mapiye yesterday, with ZEC security officer Concree Chivinda the complainant. Komichi (54) has been charged under Section 186 of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2.13).

Section 186 of the Electoral Act reads: “Any person who wilfully interrupts, obstructs or disturbs any proceedings taken under this Act in connection with an election shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level six or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or to both such fine and such imprisonment.”

It is the State’s case that on August 2, at around 10.45pm, the accused was at Harare International Conference Centre where ZEC was announcing the July 30 Presidential election results.

“After a break, the accused went to the podium reserved for commissioners announcing Presidential results and took the microphone and began to announce what he called the MDC Alliance rejection of the results.

“The accused claimed that the results (announcement) had not followed due process as the MDC Alliance agents had not been asked to verify the results. The accused was stopped by the police from making further announcements and was later arrested,” alleges the State.

Komichi was represented by Mr Obey Shava of Mbidzo. Mr Oscar Madume, who appeared for the State, did not oppose bail.

Komichi was ordered to surrender his travel documents to the Clerk of Court and to report at Harare CID Police every Friday.

He returns to court on 21 August.