MDC-Alliance activist Paddington Japajapa, who is facing charges of inciting violence, has been removed from remand after his trial failed to commence.

Presiding magistrate Mr Nyasha Vhitorini ruled that the State should put its house in order and until that happens, the matter will proceed by way of summons. Japajapa, through his lawyer Mr Ronald Simango, had made an application for refusal of further remand stating that the State was making too many postponements to the trial commencement which was initially set for October 30.

The State opposed the application saying that the court should give them another chance to prepare for trial.
Japajapa was summoned in court last week with the State stating that they were ready for his trial. The trial failed to kick off once more and he was removed from remand again.

It is the State’s case that Japajapa assisted in inciting the violence that took place on August 1 in which six people died, while property worth thousands of dollars was destroyed during the violent demonstration.

State Media