HARARE
–
Self-proclaimed
traditional
leader
Timothy
Chiminya
walked
free
on
Friday
after
the
High
Court
overturned
his
conviction
and
prison
sentence
for
allegedly
undermining
the
authority
of
President
Emmerson
Mnangagwa.
Chiminya,
who
had
been
convicted
and
jailed
for
10
months,
two
of
which
were
suspended
by
Harare
magistrate
Isheanesu
Matova,
successfully
appealed
before
High
Court
judges
Maxwell
Takuva
and
Benjamin
Chikowero.
“The
appeal
is
allowed.
The
conviction
is
quashed
and
the
sentence
set
aside…
The
accused
is
found
not
guilty
and
is
acquitted,”
said
the
judges
in
a
brief
order.
Chiminya,
a
traditional
healer
who
also
claimed
the
title
“King
Munhumutapa,”
had
been
arrested
late
last
year
on
allegations
of
insulting
the
president
and
purporting
to
appoint
and
dethrone
traditional
leaders.
Prosecutors
argued
that
by
declaring
himself
a
monarch
appointed
by
a
spirit
medium,
he
created
“parallel
structures”
and
usurped
powers
constitutionally
vested
in
the
president.
The
National
Prosecuting
Authority
accused
him
of
travelling
to
the
homestead
of
Chief
Seke
and
proclaiming
that
he
had
dethroned
him,
replacing
him
with
Masimba
Rubatika.
He
was
further
accused
of
appointing
Julius
Chimbi
as
Chief
Chigegwe,
Hama
Piki
in
Chirumhanzu,
and
Chief
Nyakunhuwa
in
Zaka,
allegedly
between
June
and
October
2024.
“All
the
accused’s
appointments
were
contrary
to
the
constitution
of
Zimbabwe
and
the
Traditional
Leaders
Act
and
ridicule
to
the
office
of
the
president,”
the
NPA
had
argued.
Following
his
arrest
Matova
had
denied
him
bail,
ruling
that
Chiminya
was
“a
security
threat”
whose
alleged
actions
could
trigger
conflict
among
communities
loyal
to
legally
recognised
chiefs.
But
High
Court
judge
Faith
Mushure
later
granted
him
US$200
bail
pending
appeal,
restricting
him
to
a
25-kilometre
travel
radius
from
Harare
Central
Police
Station,
ordering
him
to
report
twice
weekly,
surrender
his
passport
and
avoid
interfering
with
witnesses.