Biti is back in court on Monday to answer charges of contravening the Electoral Act after he allegedly unlawfully and unofficially announced the 30 July 2018 presidential election results. His trial is expected to run for the rest of this week starting tomorrow.
Not just everyone can live stream the proceedings, however. Only properly accredited media houses are permitted and even they have been instructed to do the live streaming in a manner and way that does not interfere with the court's proceedings.
In a celebrated development, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights have obtained an order issued Harare Magistrate Mugwagwa allowing accredited media practitioners to carry out live streaming of court proceedings during the trial of Mr. Biti.
Biti is facing charges of announcing the just-ended 30 July election results, a mandate that is the sole duty of the electoral body, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), and declaring the MDC Alliance presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa as the presidential race winner.
Further, Biti is being accused of having a hand in the post-election violence that saw the military intervening and shooting indiscriminately at protesters and unarmed civilians resulting in the death of six people and several injured.
