Paul Nyathi|Bulawayo Magistrate Tinashe Tashaya has cancelled an administrative warrant of arrest against MDC National Chairperson Tabitha Khumalo after she failed to appear for trial earlier this month.

Through her lawyers, Khumalo argued that she was out of the country and couldn’t attend the trial.

Khumalo (58), senator Helen Zivira Mpofu (44), Tendai Masotsha (45), Elliot Mujeri (34), Tinashe Matimbura (28), Meliqiniso Sithole (42) and Shelton Tembo (35) were supposed to appear before Tashaya earlier this month but the MDC chairperson was in no-show.

The seven are facing charges of publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to the State and accusing President Emmerson Mnangangwa of stealing the July 2018 elections.

Tashaya ruled for an administrative warrant against Khumalo, advising her lawyers to make her come to court as soon as possible.

Her lawyer Godfrey Nyoni submitted that Khumalo had advised in the previous session that she would be travelling to South Africa and prayed for the setting aside of the warrant, but Tashaya ruled that the warrant was effective.

Appearing on review yesterday, the magistrate cancelled the warrant of arrest and highlighted that the previous bail conditions remain.