According
to
The
NewsHawks,
the
delay
is
due
to
Mpofu’s
lawyer,
Tapson
Dzvetero,
being
on
holiday.
Consequently,
the
hearing
for
Chimombe
was
also
postponed
since
their
cases
are
closely
related
and
should
be
addressed
concurrently.
Chimombe
and
Mpofu
were
arrested
in
June
2024
and
have
been
in
detention
ever
since,
with
multiple
bail
applications
being
denied.
Their
efforts
to
secure
bail
have
been
a
lengthy
and
challenging
process,
as
they
continue
to
seek
release
under
altered
circumstances
after
facing
repeated
setbacks.
The
duo
argues
that
their
arrest,
detention,
and
prolonged
pre-trial
imprisonment
violate
their
constitutional
rights,
particularly
the
right
to
bail
and
the
right
to
be
heard
without
undue
delays.
However,
High
Court
Justice
Pisirayi
Kwenda
has
dismissed
their
applications,
labelling
their
claims
as
“frivolous”
and
stating
that
such
issues
should
have
been
resolved
at
the
magistrates’
court.
As
it
stands,
Chimombe
and
Mpofu’s
trial
is
set
to
continue
on
February
10,
2025.
Initially
scheduled
for
January
17,
2025,
the
trial
date
was
moved
up
after
the
defence,
led
by
Lovemore
Madhuku,
pointed
out
that
bail
applications
must
be
heard
within
48
hours
of
being
filed.