Relief for arrested MDC councillor

CHIPINGE MDC Alliance ward 8 councillor Chrispen Rambo, arrested for allegedly insulting President Emmerson Mnangagwa during the lockdown period has been released, with the State ordered to pursue the matter by way of summons.

He was removed from remand after the Prosecutor-General Kumbirai Hodzi delayed to authorise his prosecution.

Rambo (39) of 1879 Usanga medium-density suburb was set free when he appeared before Chipinge magistrate Joshua Nembaware.

He was not asked to plead to undermining authority or insulting the President as defined by section 33(2)(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

The State consented to the move after an application by Rambo's lawyer Mikias Gwamanda of Gwamanda Law Chambers for refusal of further remand until the State gets Hodzi’ s authority.

“Your Worship we apply for the refusal of further remand of the accused as the State is not yet ready to prosecute him,” Gwamanda said.

Prosecutor Timothy Katsande advised the court that the State had not yet received a certificate to prosecute the matter.

“We are still waiting for authority from the PG to prosecute the accused. The State consented that the accused person be placed off remand. The State will now proceed by way of summons once authority has been granted,” he said.

Katsande told the court that on Fool’s Day last month, Rambo sent a message allegedly denigrating the President in a WhatsApp group for Chipinge Central constituency.

This was after the President of South Africa had just announced a package to rescue businesses during the COVID-19 lockdown period in the neighbouring country.

Rambo reportedly said: “Ramaphosa has just announced for South Africas a stimulus package. Seeing him addressing and comparing him with ED, you won't doubt that we are having a fool for a Head of State.”

However, one of the members of the group made a police report, leading to Rambo’s arrest.