Jane Mlambo| Opposition legislator, Tendai Biti will be back in court today for the continuation of his trial in a case in which he is accused of contravening Section 66A (1) of the Electoral Act Chapter 2:13, which prohibits the unofficial or false declaration of election results.

Biti, through his lawyers, Ms Beatrice Mtetwa, Messrs Alec Muchadehama and Jeremiah Bhamu made an application for exception while also challenging the jurisdiction of the court and requesting further particulars which they want to use if trial proceeds.

Mtetwa said Biti had the right to declare the results according to section 66(3) and (4) of the Constitution which states that the public is entitled to report on votes as long as they are based on polling station returns.

She also said that they are challenging the court’s jurisdiction because they still believe that Biti was unlawfully brought back into the country even though the courts have already ruled that was not the case.

In response the State said that it had been served with the defence’s outline on short notice and needed time to prepare a response.

The matter was rolled over to today for ruling.