Zimbabwean Attorney General Johannes Tomana is under fire from human rights defenders who charge that he has abused his powers in invoking Section 121 of the Criminal Procedures Act this week to prevent a member of the Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe who is facing trial from traveling to the United States.
State prosecutor Phyllis Zvenyika on Thursday invoked Section 121 to block an order granted by Harare magistrate Don Ndirowei allowing Ellen Chadehama to attend a workshop on non-violent conflict at Tufts University near Boston. Chadehama is scheduled to go on trial in July on charges of possessing drugs and pornographic material.
Attorney David Hofisi, representing Chadehama, says the AG's s office is infringing on the rights of his client.
Chadehama and another GALZ staff member were granted bail late last month but must report twice a week to the Central Investigations Department drugs section at Harare Central Police Station as a condition of bail.
Besides surrendering their passports with the clerk of court, Chadehama and Zvenyika have also been barred from traveling more than 40 kilometers from Harare without authorization from the investigating officer.
