Fadzayi Mahere’s Conviction Overturned by High Court
In a significant ruling on Wednesday, the High Court has overturned the conviction and sentence of Fadzayi Mahere, a former opposition lawmaker and lawyer. Mahere was fined US$500 after being found guilty in April 2023 of sharing a video deemed false by prosecutors.
The case stemmed from Mahere’s posting of a video on X (formerly known as Twitter) in January 2021. The video depicted a woman holding a motionless baby and being confronted by a police officer. Mahere asserted that the officer had fatally assaulted the infant, a claim disputed by the state.
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Judges Benjamin Chikowero and Pisirayi Kwenda presiding over the case ruled in favor of Mahere’s appeal, stating that she had been charged under a law that did not exist. Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), representing Mahere, confirmed the High Court’s decision, marking a significant development in the case.
“We have just overturned the conviction and sentence of former Mount Pleasant constituency legislator and lawyer Fadzayi Mahere,” ZLHR said in a statement.
Mahere, who was additionally cleared of a charge of inciting public violence, expressed her satisfaction with the ruling on X.
“The High Court confirmed that I was arrested, prosecuted and convicted on the basis of an offence that doesn’t exist,” she wrote.
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