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Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Professor Jonathan Moyo presents a token to Charlene Sophia Mangweni for being the best student in electronic media after attachment during the BES College Mass Communication graduation ceremony at a Bulawayo hotel yesterday, while BES chief executive officer Obert Sibanda looks on

Prosper Ndlovu Deputy News Editor
THE decision to resolve any charges levelled against Sunday Mail editor, Edmund Kudzayi, through the legal route is at the heart of a constitutional democracy, Information Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo said yesterday.
Kudzayi was arrested on Thursday night after a police swoop at his home and his office at Herald House, which the police said had to do “with publications he did”.
Speaking during a Business Environment Studies College’s Mass Communication graduation ceremony in Bulawayo, Prof Moyo said a criminal trial was far better than a political trial.

“It’s very good to know people have an opportunity to resolve an issue through the legal process in terms of our law, in terms of our constitution. That’s always far better than seeking to resolve an issue through other means.

“That is the essence of constitutional democracy, that a matter, however important, is ultimately resolved in terms of the law,” said Prof Moyo.
“I think all rational, fair minded people would say or understand that when police take action or when law enforcement agents take action, it should be to give us, from a legal, constitutional view, some relief that at least the rule of law or the course of justice is taking place.

“It’s much easier for everyone concerned, especially when you take into account that there’s no individual and indeed no institution is above the law.”
Some sections of the media had insinuated that the arrest of the Sunday Mail editor, who recently replaced Brezhnev Malaba as head at the country’s weekly publication, was part of a conspiracy and plot against Prof Moyo.

But the minister said resolving issues through legal channels was at the heart of a constitutional democracy.
Kudzayi is expected to appear in court today facing charges of undermining the authority of President Mugabe and subverting or attempting to subvert a constitutionally-elected government.

Kudzayi’s lawyer, Joseph Mandizha of Mandizha and Company, yesterday said that Kudzayi would also face another charge of keeping ammunition in an insecure place.

It is an offence under the Firearms Act to keep live bullets at an insecure place.
“I can confirm that we are going to court tomorrow,” said Mandizha without giving further details of the case.

Prof Moyo commended the Zimbabwe Newspapers Group’s stance on the matter, after the company offered to cooperate fully with investigators.
“I’m very pleased that Zimpapers has made it very clear they’re a law abiding institution, and that they’re going to fully cooperate with the law enforcement authorities in terms of the law. And I therefore don’t want anyone asking anything else and if you do, you’ll have a monologue because I would not participate in the dialogue,” said Prof Moyo.

On the day Kudzayi was arrested, police also visited the Zimbabwe Independent offices looking for the home address of the paper’s editor, Dumisani Muleya.
Charges relating to Muleya could not be ascertained.