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Fidelis Munyoro, Harare Bureau
THE Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (ZNLWVA) secretary-general, Victor Matemadanda, accused of undermining President Mugabe’s authority, briefly appeared at the Harare magistrates’ courts last night, before he was taken back into detention.

He is expected back in court today.

Yesterday’s proceedings could not take place following disagreement over how to proceed with the matter.

Lead defence lawyer, Ms Beatrice Mtetwa, told our Harare Bureau last night that the defence insisted on having the hearing in open court.

The prosecution had arranged for a chamber hearing.

“We wanted proceedings conducted in open court because we wanted to give oral evidence,” said Ms Mtetwa.

She said after insisting on their position, the prosecutor Mr George Manokore went to the magistrate Mr Eliah Singano’s office and returned after a while to inform them that the matter would be heard today. “We are not sure whether the police wanted to apply for a warrant of further detention or what. They refused to tell us.”

Ms Mtetwa said earlier on at around 4PM police had informed the defence team that they were taking Matemadanda to Gokwe to search his house.

“We even protested that they (police) should have done that before arresting our client. Matemadanda told them that he was not going to Gokwe and asked them to go alone.”

Efforts to get comment from the prosecution authorities were fruitless last night.

Matemadanda handed himself over to the police’s Law and Order Section on Wednesday.

He was accompanied to the police by his lawyers, Ms Mtetwa, Doug Coltart and Mzokuthula Mbuyisa.

A warned-and-cautioned statement was recorded after charging him with undermining the authority of the President and causing disaffection within the army and police force arising from a press conference he held a few weeks ago.

Matemadanda’s arrest comes after police on Saturday said they wanted to interview him.

His lawyers negotiated for him to present himself on Wednesday given the Heroes’ and Defence Forces’ holidays.

Addressing a press conference last month, Matemadanda accused First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe of usurping State authority.

He said Dr Mugabe had captured her husband, President Mugabe and urged the opposition forces to unite and remove President Mugabe through harmonised elections next year.