S v Mungate and Others (B 666-71/10) [2010] ZWHHC 126 (28 June 2010);
ITAI MUNGATE
and
LOVERMORE MLAMBO
and
CHARLES ROVANI
and
EDMORE TARUVINGA
and
FELIX MARISA
and
EDMORE DAVID
versus
THE STATE
HIGH COURT OF ZIMBABWE
BHUNU J
HARARE, 29 June 2010
Mr Jena, for the appellant
Mr Chesa, for the State
Bail Appeal
This was a bail appeal against the decision of the magistrate that denied the appellants bail on grounds that they were likely to abscond trial.
The appellants were charged with unlawful prospecting for minerals, oil and natural gas without a valid license contrary to s 368 (1)(a) as read with s 4 of the Mines and Minerals Act 1 of 2006.
The court noted that the magistrate condemned the applicants to imprisonment where the state was not opposing bail, without evidence that the appellants were likely to abscond trial and without any defence from the appellants on the bail issue.
The court found that the state could not oppose the appeal since they had already conceded that the appellants were good candidates for bail.
It was held that the magistrate misdirected himself. Accordingly, bail was granted subject to conditions. The appellants were required to deposit US$20 with the clerk of Court Bindura Magistrate Court, to continue residing at their places of residence until finalization of the matter and to report to respective police stations as directed by the court.