S v X (A Juvenile) (HH 298-18, CRB MRWR 38/18) [2018] ZWHHC 298 (06 June 2018);
THE STATE
versus
X (A Juvenile)
HIGH COURT OF ZIMBABWE
MABHIKWA J
HARARE, 6 June 2018
Criminal Review
THE STATE
versus
X (A Juvenile)
HIGH COURT OF ZIMBABWE
MABHIKWA J
HARARE, 6 June 2018
Criminal Review
The court considered a criminal appeal, where the applicants had been charged for contravening s7(1)(a) or (b) of the Communal Land Act, by occupying or using communal land without lawful authority. The applicants pleaded guilty and were convicted and sentenced to pay a fine of $5000 or 30 days in prison. The appellants appealed the conviction on the ground that the court committed an irregularity by failing to proceed in terms of the correct procedure.
They contended that by entering a guilty plea, the court had a duty to safeguard the fair trial rights of the accused by adopting a procedure which was most likely to suggest a defence where there was one.
The court considered whether the appellant’s conviction was lawful. It observed that with unrepresented accused persons, there was the ever-present likelihood that out of ignorance of the law, a person would admit to charges of a complex nature out of a desire to draw sympathy of the police or the courts and the onus was upon the court to choose a procedure which would have given the appellants a possible defence.
The court found that the conviction was wrong and remitted the matter back to the lower court. In addition, the court below would be required to take cognizance of s 16 of the Act which required that following a conviction, an order for eviction be granted. Accordingly, the appeal succeeded.
TAVENGERWEI TINODYA
and
AGNES MUCHINA
and
BESTI MUNGONO
and
FUNGAI WENGE
versus
THE STATE
HIGH COURT OF ZIMBABWE
HUNGWE & WAMAMBO JJ
HARARE, 29 March 2018 & 25 April 2018
Criminal appeal
D Mudadirwa, for the appellant
Mrs S Fero, for the respondent
EVERISTO KAMONE
versus
THE STATE
HIGH COURT OF ZIMBABWE
MUREMBA J
HARARE, 13 December 2017
Bail Application
Applicant in person
Mrs S. Fero, for the respondent
MUREMBA J: On 13 December 2017, I heard the applicant’s application for bail pending appeal and dismissed it in an ex tempore judgment. I have now been asked for the written reasons thereof and these are they.