HARARE – Citizens for Coalition Change (CCC) deputy president Tendai Biti on Tuesday asked a court to adjourn his criminal case pending an appeal to the Supreme Court in a case in which he is accused of insulting a Russian citizen.
The MP for Harare East argues that Chief Justice Vongai Muchuchuti and Prosecutor Michael Reza have shown a bias that warrants the case being heard by another team of court officials.
Muchuchuti is expected to announce his decision on the request on March 31.
The judge previously denied Biti’s recusal request. Biti also lost on appeal to the Supreme Court before taking the case to the Supreme Court.
The 55-year-old human rights lawyer wants the trial to be suspended until the Supreme Court rules on his appeal against Judge Tawanda Chitapi’s verdict.
However, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) accused him of trying to delay the trial by manipulating court proceedings.
Reza said his candidacy was doomed.
The case has been hanging since 2020.
Biti allegedly insulted Ukrainian citizen Tatiana Aleshina, an associate of real estate tycoon Ken Sharpe, without provocation.
Aleshina had attended a court case in which builder George Katsimberis allegedly defrauded Sharpe, with whom he had formed a joint venture to build terraced houses in the Harare suburb of Borrowdale.
Biti is Katsimberis’ lawyer in this case.
