Zimbabwean authorities have charged an opposition legislator with
public violence which allegedly happened early this year during an
anti-government protest held in January to demonstrate against the
unilateral hike in fuel price.

Zimbabwe Republic Police officers last week summoned Allan Norman Markham, the legislator for Harare North constituency to stand trial at Harare Magistrates Court on Monday 28 October 2019 on charges of
public violence as defined in Section 36 of the Criminal Law
(Codification and Reform) Act.

The State claims that Markham disturbed the peace, security or
order of the public when he on 14 January 2019 together with some
unknown people drove his vehicle to Dust Hatcliffe market in Hatcliffe
high-density suburb, where he allegedly addressed some people in Shona
stating that; “Yava nguva yedu yekudzorera mapurisa nemasoja
arikunyanya kutirova,” which was translated to mean; “It’s now our
time to revenge police and soldiers who are beating us.”

The State charges that Markham, who is represented by Obey Shava
of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights left the marketplace, where some
unknown people burnt some flammable materials and the legislator was
seen by one Ketai Mashuta burning a carpark in Hatcliffe suburb before
fleeing.

On Monday 28 October 2019, Markham’s matter was postponed to 12
November 2019, where his trial is expected to commence.

-ZLHR