HARARE - Martha Tholanah, the chairperson of Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (Galz), yesterday pleaded not guilty to charges of running an “unregistered” organisation when her trial finally commenced at the Harare Magistrates Court.
Tholanah was facing charges of contravening Section 6 (1) (3) of the Private Voluntary Organisation (PVO) Act Chapter 17:05.
The Galz chairperson’s trial finally commenced before Harare magistrate Donald Ndirowei after suffering several false starts since last year when Tholanah was summoned to stand trial.
After pleading not guilty to the charge, Tholanah’s lawyer, Tonderai Bhatasara of Mupanga Bhatasara Attorneys, a member of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), objected to the charges preferred against her client.
Bhatasara argued that the charge does not disclose an offence in view of the High Court order which was granted last month by Justice Priscilla Chigumba exempting Galz from registering under the PVO Act.
Bhatasara argued that the charge was vague and improperly constructed before State prosecutors asked for a postponement of the trial to tomorrow when they will respond to the application for exception to the charges.