WOZA leaders, Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, appeared in Bulawayo Magistrate’s Court again today in a continuation of their trial on charges of disturbing the peace. The matter had been postponed from Thursday last week to give the Magistrate time to rule on a constitutional application on the grounds that the sections under which Williams and Mahlangu are charged violate their constitutional right to freedom of expression, association and assembly.

As expected, Magistrate Msipa ruled that the application was frivolous and vexatious and that the trial should proceed immediately. This is despite the fact that there is still an appeal pending before the High Court on the merit of the charges.

The state did not have their witnesses ready however and the matter was due to be postponed to 2.15pm when defence lawyer, Kossam Ncube indicated that the defence would be placing another constitutional application directly before the Supreme Court in Harare as allowed under Section 24 sub-section (1) of the Constitution. In this section, the litigant is allowed to appeal directly to the Supreme Court if they feel that they are still aggrieved.

The matter has now been postponed to 11.15am on Wednesday 18th March for the defence to submit evidence of the application to the Supreme Court.