‘Jukwa’ Brothers application dismissed

By Tendai Rupapa 

A HARARE magistrate yesterday dismissed an application for refusal of further remand by Sunday Mail editor Edmund Kudzayi and his brother Philip who are accused of subversion and undermining the authority of the President through the Baba Jukwa Facebook account.

Both Edmund, 28, and Philip, 29, are suspected to be the administrators of the Baba Jukwa account.

The pair yesterday appeared before magistrate Milton Serima who ruled that they should remain on remand pending their trial at the High Court.

Through their lawyer Admire Rubaya, the two made an application for further remand refusal arguing that they have been on remand for a long time with the state failing to provide them with a trial date.

On the other hand prosecutor Sharon Mashavira opposed the application on the basis that the pair’s application was misplaced considering that they were only arrested on June 24, and they have been on remand for only two months.

After hearing submissions from both counsels, Serima concurred with the state and dismissed the application.

“The accused have been on remand for a reasonable period of time and considering the complexity of the matter, state should be afforded more time to complete its investigations,” he said.

Serima remanded the pair to October 3, for their routine remand and for purposes of trial, their docket is going to be married with that of a 20-year-old University of Zimbabwe student Romeo Musemburi.

Musemburi is facing similar charges.

On Monday the court heard that a team of detectives is expected to leave for the United States to meet social networks and search engine providers to aid the state case against the three.

It is the state’s case that sometime in April 2013, Edmund hatched a plan with Philip to overthrow the government through unconstitutional means.

It is alleged that he created a Gmail account, [email protected] using a mobile phone line registered in Philip’s name, but used by Edmund.

The two allegedly formed two separate groups called the Gunda Nleya Brigade and the Zimbabwe Revolutionary Army with the purpose of overthrowing the government.

Edmund is alleged to have posted articles on the Baba Jukwa Facebook page which encouraged rebellion against the government if the July 31 harmonised elections “were stolen”. The Herald